Using two CSS classes on one element

18    Asked by JustinStewart in Python , Asked on Aug 24, 2025

How can you apply two or more CSS classes to a single HTML element? What is the correct syntax, and how does the browser interpret multiple class styles together?

Answered by Zora Heidenreich

Developers often wonder: “Can I use two CSS classes on one element, and how does it work?” The good news is that HTML allows you to apply multiple CSS classes to the same element without any problem. This is a common practice to keep your code clean, reusable, and flexible.

How to Apply Multiple Classes:

 You simply separate each class name with a space in the class attribute.

 

  Here, the element has both box and shadow classes applied.

How the Browser Interprets It:

  • The browser applies styles from both classes.
  • If two classes define the same property, the CSS specificity and order decide which one takes priority.

Example:

 .box { background: lightblue; }
.shadow { background: yellow; }
 Content

  The background will be yellow, since .shadow was declared last.

Benefits of Using Multiple Classes:

  • Encourages reusability (e.g., btn primary, btn danger).
  • Keeps styles modular and easy to maintain.
  • Helps avoid duplication of CSS code.

 Key Takeaway:

 Yes, you can assign multiple classes to one element by separating them with spaces. This allows you to combine styles efficiently while maintaining flexibility and clean code structure.



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