Class selector

You can apply styles to all elements with the specified class by using the class selector.

A class selector is a name preceded by a period (.).

.example { color: red; }

In the above example, the style is applied to all elements that have the class "example".

p.example { color: red; }

The class can also be used with a particular element type. In the above example, the style is applied to only P elements that have the class "example".

Note : A class name cannot start with a number.
Bad example : .1example { }
Good example : .example1 { }

Element

You can specify a class for elements by using the class attribute.

<p class="example">Example text</p>

Two or more classes can also be specified for an element. (They are separated by a space.)

<p class="example1 example2">Example text</p>

The class with a particular element type

<html>
<head>
<title>TAG index</title>

<style type="text/css">

p.example { color: red; }

</style>

</head>
<body>

<h1 class="example">The style is not applied to this heading</h1>
<p class="example">The style is applied to this text.</p>

<h2 class="example">The style is not applied to this heading</h2>
<p class="example">The style is applied to this text.</p>

</body>
</html>

Example pagenew window

Only the class name

<html>
<head>
<title>TAG index</title>

<style type="text/css">

.example { color: red; }

</style>

</head>
<body>

<h1 class="example">The style is applied to this heading</h1>
<p class="example">The style is applied to this text.</p>

<h2>The style is not applied to this heading</h2>
<p>The style is not applied to this text.</p>

</body>
</html>

Example pagenew window

Multiple classes

<html>
<head>
<title>TAG index</title>

<style type="text/css">

.example1 { color: red; }
.example2 { text-decoration: underline; }

</style>

</head>
<body>

<p class="example1">Only the color style.</p>

<p class="example2">Only the decoration style.</p>

<p class="example1 example2">The color and decoration styles.</p>

</body>
</html>

Example pagenew window

Nesting

The style can be applied only to elements within a certain element by using descendant selectors.

.example p { color: red; }

In the above example, the style is applied to all P elements within the element with the class "example". (Other P elements are unaffected)

<html>
<head>
<title>TAG index</title>

<style type="text/css">

.example p { color: red; }

</style>

</head>
<body>

<div class="example">
<p>The style is applied to this text.</p>
<p>The style is applied to this text.</p>
</div>

<p>The style is not applied to this text.</p>

</body>
</html>

Example pagenew window