In CSS cascade, which rule determines which style applies when two rules target the same element?

In CSS cascade, which rule determines which style applies when two rules target the same element?

• A. Inline styles always win irrespective of specificity
• B. Order of rules is all that matters
• C. Higher specificity wins; if equal, later in the CSS file wins.
• D. Specificity does not affect which rule applies

Answer: (C)

When two rules target the same element, the browser uses the cascade: it weighs how specific each selector is, and if they’re equally specific, it relies on source order. The most specific rule wins, and if both have the same specificity, the rule that appears later in the CSS file wins. In practice, inline styles have the highest practical specificity, then IDs, then classes/attributes/pseudo-classes, then element selectors. This is why the correct guideline is: higher specificity wins; if equal, later in the CSS file wins.

When two rules target the same element, the browser uses the cascade: it weighs how specific each selector is, and if they’re equally specific, it relies on source order. The most specific rule wins, and if both have the same specificity, the rule that appears later in the CSS file wins. In practice, inline styles have the highest practical specificity, then IDs, then classes/attributes/pseudo-classes, then element selectors. This is why the correct guideline is: higher specificity wins; if equal, later in the CSS file wins.