CSS Selectors: What's the Difference Between `>` and a Space?

` and a Space? " />

Navigating CSS Selectors: Understanding the Distinction Between '>' and Space

In CSS, selecting the correct elements is crucial for styling purposes. Two commonly used syntaxes for selecting elements are '>' (greater-than sign) and a space. While both can be employed to target elements within a parent element, they differ significantly in their behavior.

'div.card > div.name' vs. 'div.card div.name'

The syntax '>' selects only those elements that are direct children of the parent element. In the example provided, 'div.card > div.name' will only select 'div.name' elements that are immediate descendants of 'div.card'.

On the other hand, 'div.card div.name' selects any 'div.name' elements that are nested within 'div.card', regardless of how many intermediate elements there may be. This syntax allows for more flexible selection, including elements that are separated by other elements.

Practical Example

Consider the following HTML structure:

<div class="card">
  <div class="name">Jane Doe</div>
  <p>Contact Information:</p>
  <ul>
    <li>Email: jane.doe@example.com</li>
  </ul>
</div>

If you want to style only the name of the person in the card, you would use 'div.card > div.name', as it specifically targets only the 'div.name' element that is the direct child of 'div.card'.

However, if you wish to style both the name and any other elements within the card that contain the class 'name', such as the email address, you would use 'div.card div.name', as this syntax encompasses all descendants regardless of nesting depth.

The above is the detailed content of CSS Selectors: What's the Difference Between `>` and a Space?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!