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CSS & Frontend

Specificity

/ˌspesɪˈfɪsɪti/

Definition

The CSS rule determining which style wins when multiple rules target the same element — calculated from selector types.

Example in context

"The inline style wins — inline specificity (1,0,0,0) beats any class or ID selector."

Related terms

  • Cascade — The algorithm that determines which CSS rules apply when multiple conflicting declarations target the same element.
  • BEM — Block Element Modifier — a CSS naming convention using double underscores and hyphens for predictable, component-based class names.

Practice this term

Master Specificity in context by working through exercises in the CSS & Frontend module. You'll see the term used in real engineering scenarios with multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, and matching drills.

Practice in exercises → Browse all words

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "Specificity" mean?

The CSS rule determining which style wins when multiple rules target the same element — calculated from selector types.

How do you pronounce "Specificity"?

"Specificity" is pronounced /ˌspesɪˈfɪsɪti/.

Can you use "Specificity" in a sentence?

"The inline style wins — inline specificity (1,0,0,0) beats any class or ID selector."