Why use id selectors

Once you have given the styles to that class name, you can use it as often as you like. Tip: The Class name can be named with any name you want to use. We suggest using an intuitive and logical naming convention that helps to identify the content. This in turn becomes a content identifier and helps to lay out your code in a well structured format. You can copy code from this to try it out yourself. This introduction to Class and ID selectors should provide a starting point for further inquiry into the unlimited creative aspects that HTML offers.

We will continue to explore other areas of HTML design in the next blog. We hope this introduction has piqued your interest and inspired you to explore further and dive deeper into the world of web design.

Enroll in our Intro to Programming Nanodegree program today! Start Learning. January 22, 4 min read. Michael Allen. ID vs. Class: What You Need to Know Although they have similar functions, they are not the same and do not always share the same purpose. Each ID can have an unlimited amount of Styles applied to it. Each page can have only one element with that ID.

This allows you to jump from one place to another on the same web page and can also be used in creating a well-designed Table of Contents. So, if you apply a style using a class selector, any element which shares that class will be subject to the styles you define. Class selectors are defined using a period, followed by the value of the class that you want to apply a set of styles to.

This is because both tags share the same class name: orangeBackground. In addition, a web element can share multiple different classes. In this code, any style rules defined for the orangeBackground and large classes are applied to our web element. With an ID, on the other hand, we could not replicate this behavior, because each element can only have one ID. So far, we have discussed the fact that IDs can only apply styles to one element. Unlike classes that can apply styles to multiple elements.

This is not the only difference between the class and ID selectors. In the browser, classes have no special function. Their main purpose is to allow you to apply styles to a range of elements on a web page. IDs, on the other hand, can be used by the browser to navigate to a certain part of the web page. This behavior works because IDs are unique on a web page. Suppose we wanted to send over a link to our website that scrolls the user automatically to a header.

We could do so using this code:. Now, we could send a user a direct link that scrolls them to that element on the web page. This is done by using the following URL:. When a user navigates to this URL, where domain. This behavior does not apply to classes.

The function getElementById allows you to select an element on a web page. It relies on the fact that only one element can share the same ID. Classes, on the other hand, can reflect multiple elements on a web page. They would not be useful if you want to work with a particular element in JavaScript. Two months after graduating, I found my dream job that aligned with my values and goals in life!

You could do so using this code:. However, it is best practice to only use IDs if you want a style to apply to one element on the web page, and to use classes if you want a style to apply to multiple elements.

To select elements with a specific class, write a period. We just launched W3Schools videos. Get certified by completing a course today! If you want to report an error, or if you want to make a suggestion, do not hesitate to send us an e-mail:. Margins Margin Collapse. Float Clear Float Examples. Navbar Vertical Navbar Horizontal Navbar.