Please teach the CSS newbie

[pff]

Hello,
I a few very basic questions about CSS. I'd really appreciate it if you could answer them.

1) What is the difference between css codes starting with # and with .
2) What is the difference between using id="xx" and class="xx"
3) What is the difference between writing it like

.help {  background-color : #fffff0;}

and

.help {
background-color: #fffff0;
}

4) Should it be

.thtcolor { COLOR: #EEEEFF;}

or

.thtcolor { COLOR: #EEEEFF}

Thanks

[Technosailor]

#'s start ID's
.'s start CLASS's

A CLASS is a grouping of elements with the same characteristics/styles.

An ID is a individual element with a specific characteristic/style.

.help {  background-color : #fffff0;}
and
.help {
background-color: #fffff0;
}

are exactly alike.

Finally, you always end each defined style with a semicolon (.

Hope this helps.

sketch

[pff]

Thanks for the quick answer, I really appreciate it. But I couldn't get the difference between ids and classes. When should I use an id, when should I use a class?

Thanks

[Technosailor]

use class to describe MULTIPLE elements...to give them a name such as NavBar or MainPageFooter, etc. That way any element with CLASS="whatever" will carry those styles.

ID's are identical except there can be only one. So instead of NavBar, you might use NavBar_Selector so that the element carrying that ID would have that style.

There's no difference really betweent he two except in the case of how many elements can be assigned the CLASS or ID.

I know that doesn't really answer your question real well. Sorry.

sketch

[pff]

Ok thanks. I have another question about CSS. I want to be able to specifiy different styles for different links on my page. But I don't want to make it as long as this one:

.forum A:link { text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal; color:#000000; }
.forum A:visited { text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal; color:#000000; }
.forum A:active { text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal; color:#000000; }
.forum A:hover { text-decoration: underline }

As you see, link, visited and active are the same anyway. How can I write it shorter or what is the ideal way to specifiy different styles for different links.

Thanks

[Technosailor]

cut and paste and then just change the a:____ That's how I'd do it. You could shorthand it, but I recommend against it. I ALWAYS write it all the way out to avoid confusion by browsers or myself for that matter.

sketch