Abakada: Back to Basics > Language References > CSS Properties > Pseudo-Classes > first-child Pseudo-class

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Represents the first element among a group of sibling elements.

selector:first-child { property: value; }

property	Any valid CSS property.
value	Any of the range of values available to the corresponding property.

The :first-child pseudo-class applies styles to the first element among a group of sibling elements.

The syntax for using the :first-child pseudo-class is straightforward. A selector immediately precedes the pseudo-class.

For example, to change the background color of first-child elements on a page.

div:first-child { background-color: beige }

The following demonstrates use of the :first-child pseudo-class in an embedded stylesheet to set the style of first-child elements on a page.

• 5.11.1. :first-child pseudo-class
• 14.3.3. :first-child pseudo-class

:last-child( )   :nth-child( )   :nth-last-child( )   :only-child( )