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HTML Classes

Class Attribute in HTML

The HTML class attribute is used to specify a single or multiple class names for an HTML element. The class name can be used by CSS and JavaScript to do some tasks for HTML elements.

To create a class; write a period (.) character, followed by a class name. Then, define the CSS properties within curly braces {}:

Using The class Attribute

The class attribute is often used to point to a class name in a style sheet. It can also be used by a JavaScript to access and manipulate elements with the specific class name.

Example:

<!DOCTYPE html>  
<html>
<head>
<style>
.headings{
color: lightgreen;
font-family: cursive;
background-color: black; }
</style>
</head>
<body>
<h1 class="headings">This is first heading</h1>
<h2 class="headings">This is Second heading</h2>
<h3 class="headings">This is third heading</h3>
<h4 class="headings">This is fourth heading</h4>
</body>
</html>

Output:

Class First Example

note

You can use class attribute on any HTML element.

The class name is case-sensitive

Multiple Classes

HTML elements can belong to more than one class.

To define multiple classes, separate the class names with a space, e.g. <div class="city main">. The element will be styled according to all the classes specified.

In the following example, the first <h2> element belongs to both the city class and also to the main class, and will get the CSS styles from both of the classes:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<style>
.city {
background-color: tomato;
color: white;
padding: 10px;
}

.main {
text-align: center;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<h2 class="city main">Rome</h2>
<h2 class="city">Venice</h2>
<h2 class="city">Turin</h2>
</body>
</html>

Multiple Classes Example

Different Elements Can Share Same Class

Different HTML elements can point to the same class name.

<!DOCTYPE html>    
<html>
<head>
<style>
.fruit {
background-color: orange;
color: white;
padding: 10px;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<h2>Same Class with Different Tag</h2>
<h2 class="fruit">Mango</h2>
<p class="fruit">Mango is the king of all fruits.</p>
</body>
</html>

Output:

Different Elements Example

Class Attribute in JavaScript

You can use JavaScript access elements with a specified class name by using the getElementsByClassName() method.

Example:

Let's hide all the elements with class name "fruit" when the user click on the button.

<!DOCTYPE html>    
<html>
<head>
<style>
.note {
font-size: 120%;
color: red;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<h2>Class Attribute with JavaScript</h2>
<p>Click the button, to hide all elements with the class name "fruit", with JavaScript:</p>
<button onclick="myFunction()">Hide elements</button>
<h2 class="fruit">Mango</h2>
<p>Mango is king of all fruits.</p>
<h2 class="fruit">Orange</h2>
<p>Oranges are full of Vitamin C.</p>
<h2 class="fruit">Apple</h2>
<p>An apple a day, keeps the Doctor away.</p>

<script>
function myFunction() {
var x = document.getElementsByClassName("fruit");
for (var i = 0; i < x.length; i++) {
x[i].style.display = "none";
}
}
</script>
</body>
</html>