CSS :last-child Selector

Posted in CSS Tutorial

Updated on Oct 16, 2024

By Mari Selvan

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4 mins

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Photo Credit to CodeToFun

Introduction

The :last-child selector in CSS is a pseudo-class used to select the last element among a group of sibling elements.

This selector is especially helpful when you need to apply specific styles to only the last item in a list, row, or group without adding extra classes or IDs.

Syntax

The signature of the :last-child Selector is as follows:

Syntax

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element:last-child {
    /* CSS properties */
}

The :last-child selector can be applied to any type of element. It will target the last child element within its parent.

Example 1:

Here is an example of how to use the :last-child selector in CSS:

HTML

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<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
    <title>CSS :last-child Selector Example</title>
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="styles.css">
</head>
<body>
    <ul>
        <li>Item 1</li>
        <li>Item 2</li>
        <li>Item 3</li>
        <li>Item 4</li>
    </ul>
</body>
</html>

CSS

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/* Style for the last child of a list */
li:last-child {
    color: red;
    font-weight: bold;
}

In this example:

The li:last-child selector targets the last list item (<li>) inside the <ul>.
The last list item is styled with red text and bold font.

Usage Tips

The :last-child selector can be used with any element type. For example, you can apply it to paragraphs, divs, or table rows.
You can combine :last-child with other pseudo-classes or selectors for more specific styling. For instance, you could style only the last paragraph inside a div using div p:last-child.

Example 2:

CSS

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div p:last-child {
    margin-bottom: 0;
}

This is especially useful when trying to remove spacing or apply different styles to the last element of a group.

Common Pitfalls

The :last-child selector targets the last child element of a parent, not necessarily the last element of a certain type. If you want to target the last element of a specific type within a parent, you should use :last-of-type instead.
Ensure that there are no hidden elements or non-visible nodes in the document that might unexpectedly be treated as the "last child."

Conclusion

The CSS :last-child selector is a valuable tool for targeting the last element in a group without needing to modify the HTML structure. It simplifies styling and enhances flexibility, making it easy to manage last-child elements in dynamic content.

This selector is widely supported across modern browsers, making it a reliable option for precise layout and design control.