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Why does my element with an ID selector not override a class selector in my stylesheet?

Asked on Nov 06, 2025

Answer

In CSS, ID selectors have higher specificity than class selectors, so they should override them. If your ID selector is not overriding a class selector, there might be another issue at play, such as specificity conflicts or incorrect syntax.

Example Concept: CSS specificity determines which styles are applied to an element when multiple rules could apply. An ID selector (e.g., #myId) has higher specificity than a class selector (e.g., .myClass). If an ID selector is not overriding a class selector, check for issues like incorrect ID usage, inline styles, or more specific selectors elsewhere in the stylesheet.

Additional Comment:

Ensure the ID is correctly applied to the element in your HTML.
Check for any inline styles, as they have higher specificity than both class and ID selectors.
Look for other CSS rules with higher specificity, such as combined selectors (e.g., .myClass #myId).
Verify that there are no syntax errors in your CSS that might prevent the ID selector from being recognized.

✅ Answered with CSS best practices.

Ask any question about CSS here... and get an instant response.

Why does my element with an ID selector not override a class selector in my stylesheet?

Asked on Nov 06, 2025

Answer

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