:root selector vs html selector in CSS


Both :root and html are selectors used in CSS to target the root element of your document, which in HTML is the <html> tag. Here's a breakdown of their similarities and differences:

Similarities:

  • In the context of HTML, both :root and html target the same element, the <html> tag.

  • They can be used to set global styles that apply to the entire document.

Differences:

  • Specificity: :root has a higher specificity than html. This means if you use both selectors with conflicting styles, the style defined with :root will take precedence. This can be useful for overriding default styles or styles set with html.

  • Document type: :root is a pseudo-class selector, meaning it works across different document types like SVG. html is an element selector and only works for HTML documents. So, if you're styling something other than HTML, :root is the way to go.

  • Variable declaration: :root is commonly used to declare CSS custom properties (variables) that can be reused throughout your styles.

In summary:

  • Use html for basic styling of the <html> element in most HTML cases.

  • Use :root when you need higher specificity, are working with non-HTML documents, or want to define CSS variables.


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