CSS: "tagname.classname" or ".classname"

[Ante Perkovic]

Hi,

Sorry if this is OT

I have some old CSS files that have all class names preceded with
tagname, like "TD.verysmall" or "span.important". I'm exeprimenting
with Dreamwiever and I noticed that, when making new class, DW doesn't
ask me for which tag it is. I also noticed that classes in some
template css files don't have tagnames in front.

So, should I make classes with or without tagnames in front?

Thanks,
Ante

 

[Martin Honnen]

Ante Perkovic wrote:

Sorry if this is OT

Try a group on stylesheets if you have a CSS question.

I have some old CSS files that have all class names preceded with
tagname, like "TD.verysmall" or "span.important". I'm exeprimenting
with Dreamwiever and I noticed that, when making new class, DW doesn't
ask me for which tag it is. I also noticed that classes in some
template css files don't have tagnames in front.

So, should I make classes with or without tagnames in front?

CSS doesn't allow you to "make classes", it allows you to write rules
with selectors, if you have a selector
.classname
then the rule applies to all elements having the class attribute set to
include that class name e.g to
<p class="classname">
as well as
<span class="classname">
If you use
elementname.classname
e.g.
p.classname
then the rule only applies to <p> elements but not <span> elements.
Which selector to choose depends on your needs.

 

[DU]

Hi,

Sorry if this is OT

I have some old CSS files that have all class names preceded with
tagname, like "TD.verysmall" or "span.important". I'm exeprimenting
with Dreamwiever and I noticed that, when making new class, DW doesn't
ask me for which tag it is. I also noticed that classes in some
template css files don't have tagnames in front.

So, should I make classes with or without tagnames in front?

Thanks,
Ante

Maybe I'm a bit off-topic here but you may want to read these because
they address the question you have:

"How to write the perfect style sheet - always looks perfect, whatever
the browser; easy to maintain; quick to download"
http://richinstyle.com/masterclass/perfection.html
IMO, unsurpassed and excellent.

Guidelines for Efficient CSS
http://www.mozilla.org/xpfe/goodcss.html

DU