Expert Tips for CSS nth-child Element Selection

Tired of selecting elements one by one in your CSS code? Discover the magic of CSS nth-child!

March 17, 2023

By: Santiago

Any web designer knows that mastering CSS is a must if you want to create web pages that pop! As the backbone of web design, CSS gives you the power to control every aspect of how your page looks and feels, from the colors and fonts to the layout and responsiveness. CSS helps you bring your wildest design ideas to life and create unforgettable user experiences that keep visitors coming back for more.

But, Rome wasn’t built in a day! Becoming a CSS ninja takes time! So let’s start by digging into these beginner-friendly tips for one powerful CSS feature, the nth-child selector!

CSS nth-child allows you to select and style specific elements based on their position within a parent element. The nth-child selector takes an argument in the form of an expression, enabling you to create dynamic and visually appealing designs with ease. Here’s how we go about it!

First things first!

Remember, the early bird catches the worm! But what about this cute doggie?

If you want to select the first item, enter:

Last but not least!

The last laugh is the sweetest, and so is this kitty! 

If you want to choose the last element, insert: 

Better be last than second-last?

Not for this adorable elephant! 

Most sayings agree that this is the mediocrity position, but we believe: “Second-last is the place where champions are made”.

If you want to select the second-last element, enter:

The unsung math heroes!

Even numbers provide balance and harmony, stability and structure. Just like these gorgeous pandas! 

So, if you want to choose the even elements, try this:

Spot the odd one out! 

Odd numbers are the spice of life! They break the mold and forge new paths! Sort of spiky like these cacti! 

If you’re strong, independent, and choose the odd outliers, insert: 

May the fourth be with you!

Remember that the strongest winds cannot break the spirit of a palm tree!

If you want to choose the fourth element, do this:

Give me five!

Up high, down low, too slow! Better be fast with these 5 T-Rexes!

If you want to select the first 5 elements, here’s how you can do it:

Give me all but five!

The same applies to these kings of beasts!

If you want to choose everything but the first 5, this is how you should go about it:

Leelo’s element!

Nudge, nudge, wink, wink to all the 90’s cinephiles! In this case, it’s not our favorite redhead but our darling koala!

If you want to choose the 5th element, try this:

Wrapping up, we hope this CSS nth-child delivery takes you a step closer to mastering this core web design tool! If you’re hungry for more knowledge, you’re in luck! We’ve got plenty of other tips for you to dive into, including must-know UI do’s and don’ts that will take your skills to the next level. Don’t miss out on the chance to keep honing your craft and creating stunning designs!

✍🏼 This article was written by our copywriter, Sofia, in collaboration with our CSS expert, Santiago.