CSS Special Selectors

Child

Pattern: E > F
Match any F element that is a child of E element .

CSS example: p > span { color: red; }

HTML example:

<p>
  Only <span>this </span> is red.
</p>

Only this is red.

Next sibling

Pattern: E + F
Matches if E and F share the same parent and E immediatly precedes F .

CSS example: b + i { color: red; }

HTML example:

<b>Lorem</b>
<i>ipsum</i>
<u>dolor</u>

Lorem ipsum dolor

Following sibling

Pattern: E ~ F
Matches if selector E and F share the same parent and E precedes F .

CSS example: b ~ i { color: red; }

HTML example:

<b>Lorem</b>
<u>ipsum</u>
<i>dolor</i>

Lorem ipsum dolor

Containing word selector

Pattern: [E~=F]
Matches if E value contains the word F .

CSS example: [class~=foo] { color: red; }

HTML example:

<b class="foo">Lorem</b>
<u class="bar">ipsum</u>
<i class="foobar">dolor</i>

Lorem ipsum dolor

Begins with selector

Pattern: [E^=F]
Matches if E value begins with F .

CSS example: [class^=foo] { color: red; }

HTML example:

<b class="foo">Lorem</b>
<u class="bar">ipsum</u>
<i class="foobar">dolor</i>

Lorem ipsum dolor

Ends with selector

Pattern: [E$=F]
Matches if E value begins with F .

CSS example: [class$=foo] { color: red; }

HTML example:

<b class="foo">Lorem</b>
<u class="bar">ipsum</u>
<i class="barfoo">dolor</i>

Lorem ipsum dolor