How Does the CSS `:last-child` Selector Work, and When Should I Use `:last-of-type` Instead?

Understanding the :last-child Selector

The :last-child selector is used to target the last child element of a parent. However, there are some important subtleties to be aware of in its usage.

Exclusion of Elements Outside of Direct Parent

One crucial point to note is that the :last-child selector will not target elements if they are not the last child of their immediate parent. This means that if an element has any other siblings, whether nested or not, :last-child will not apply to it.

Example

Consider the following HTML and CSS:

<ul>
    <li class="complete">1</li>
    <li class="complete">2</li>
    <li>3</li>
    <li>4</li>
</ul>

li.complete:last-child {
    background-color: yellow;
}

In this scenario, neither li element with the "complete" class will have a yellow background. This is because they are not the very last child of the

element. The
• element with the value "4" comes after the second "complete"
• , making it the last child.

  Alternative Selectors

  To target the last child of a group of sibling elements, :last-of-type can be used instead. It selects the last instance of an element type within its parent, regardless of any other elements present.

  jQuery Considerations

  The jQuery selector $("li.complete:last-child") will also not target the desired element, as it behaves similarly to the CSS selector. However, $("li.complete").last() will select the last element in the list, regardless of its position relative to other siblings.

  Conclusion

  Understanding the nuances of :last-child is essential for accurate element targeting. Always ensure that the element is the last child of its direct parent if you intend to use this selector. Alternatively, :last-of-type can be a useful choice when selecting the last instance of an element type within a parent container.

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