CSS Specificity Issues - Can't Override Styles
Styles can't be overridden despite being written after conflicting rules. !important needed everywhere. Third-party styles override custom styles. CSS cascade not working as expected.
CSS specificity determines which rule applies when conflicts occur. Higher specificity always wins. Understanding selector specificity is essential.
Common Causes
- Inline styles (highest specificity) overriding classes
- ID selectors (#id) overriding classes
- !important in external library styles
- Not understanding specificity calculation
- Rule order not matching cascade in HTML
How to Fix It
Specificity order (lowest to highest):
1. Element selectors (1 point)
2. Class selectors (10 points)
3. ID selectors (100 points)
4. Inline styles (1000 points)
5. !important (overrides all)
Override library styles using higher specificity or !important only when necessary:
/* Override bootstrap */
.container { max-width: 1200px !important; }Real developers can help you.
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Get HelpFrequently Asked Questions
Can I use !important everywhere?
Bad practice. Use higher specificity instead. !important makes debugging harder. Only use when truly necessary.
How do I calculate specificity?
Element=1, class=10, ID=100, inline=1000. Higher number wins. Use CSS Specificity Calculator tool to verify.