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Asked: 2024-09-26T01:00:06+05:30 In: ,

What is the shortest CSS selector that targets all HTML elements on a page without using the asterisk (*)?

I was diving into some CSS challenges recently and stumbled upon something really interesting that I think would spark some fun discussions. So, here’s the situation: imagine you’re faced with the task of creating the shortest CSS selector possible that targets all HTML elements on a page. Sounds straightforward, right? But here’s the catch: you want to do this without using an asterisk (*)!

Now, I know a lot of you are CSS wizards, and this might sound like a piece of cake, but it really got me thinking about the creativity and cleverness involved in crafting selectors. There are standard ways to target elements like divs, spans, and headers, but can we come up with something even more inventive? What about leveraging attributes, pseudo-classes, or even just combinators?

I’ve been toying with a few ideas myself, but I can’t seem to get it as short as I’d like. It’s all about finding that balance between brevity and functionality. Plus, the challenge is all about making it universal. It has to apply to all elements — no exclusions, no limits.

The beauty of this challenge is how it pushes us to think outside the box. For instance, can you target a common ancestor that encompasses all elements? Or maybe use specific tags that might act as anchors? I’ve seen some folks creatively combine selectors in unique ways.

So here’s my challenge to all you CSS enthusiasts: what’s the most compact selector you can come up with to achieve this task? Share your solutions, rationale, and thought processes. It would be awesome to see how different people tackle the same problem. And who knows, you might just stumble upon a method that’s both elegant and effective! I’m really curious to see what you come up with. Let’s start this CSS selector brainstorming session!

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    2 Answers



    1. CSS Selector Challenge


      This is a test heading

      And here’s a paragraph for good measure.

      Maybe a div here?

      A cool span!

      • List item one
      • List item two

      Color me curious about CSS!


    2. To create the shortest CSS selector that targets all HTML elements without using the asterisk (*), one inventive approach is to utilize the universal function of the :not() pseudo-class. For example, you can use the selector :not(:empty) combined with a simple descendant selector to target all elements: :not(:empty) * { }. This selector essentially targets every element that is not empty, therefore applying styles universally without the need for an explicit universal selector. It’s notably compact, maintains functionality, and creatively utilizes CSS’s capabilities to navigate around the absence of the ‘*’ character.

      Another alternative could be taking advantage of the fact that all elements inherit from the html and body elements at the root of the document structure. A valid and compact selector could be simply html, body, div, span, p, ... which can be extended to include any specific elements you want to universally apply certain styles. However, the challenge lies in whether you want to explicitly name every potential element or leverage existing properties in a more minimalistic manner. Each method relies on a clever use of existing CSS structures to accomplish the goal of universal element selection.

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