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CSS CSS Basics Basic Selectors ID Selectors

ID selectors vs Class selectors

When should I use an ID selector as opposed to a Class selector? Class selectors seem like the better option, but I am sure that there's reasons for the use of an ID selector, otherwise it wouldn't exist anymore.

1 Answer

Jonathan Grieve
MOD
Jonathan Grieve
Treehouse Moderator 91,252 Points

Hi there.

It's right to say that class selectors are more commonly used.

There's a couple of things to consider. ID Selectors have a higher specificity than class selectors. By definition, ID selectors give an element a Unique selector. It can only be used for that specific element. That's not to say that you can't give an element both an ID and a class selector, but if you're using the same styles in that selector the ID styles would override the Class styles.

Contrary to the ID selectors, you can use Class selectors on more than one element... which is useful for doing things like styling multiple article entries in a blog.

I like to use an ID selector on something like the <main> element as most websites I like have one containing element.... such as a main or a div element.

So, for me, it's not one being selectors being better than the other. It's about understanding the benefits and limitations of each.