CSS Error3 Fixes Available

CSS styles not applying — specificity conflict

CSS rule not being applied (overridden by more specific selector)

What does this error mean?

CSS specificity determines which rule wins when multiple rules target the same element. If your style isn't applying, a more specific selector is overriding it. Specificity is calculated as: inline styles > IDs > classes/attributes > elements.

Common Causes

A more specific selector (ID or inline style) overrides your class rule
A later stylesheet or rule with equal specificity overrides yours
Using !important in a framework that gets overridden
CSS Modules or Tailwind classes conflicting with custom styles

How to Fix It (3 Solutions)

Increase your selector's specificity

Make your selector more specific to win the cascade.

Code

/* ❌ Low specificity — gets overridden */
.button { color: red; }

/* ✅ Higher specificity */
.container .button { color: red; }

/* ✅ Or add a more specific class */
.button.button-primary { color: red; }

Use !important as a last resort

!important overrides all other declarations, but use sparingly.

Code

/* Only use when you can't increase specificity */
.button { color: red !important; }

Check specificity in DevTools

Open Chrome DevTools → Elements → Styles. Crossed-out rules are being overridden. Hover over the selector to see its specificity score.

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