Universal selector in CSS - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What does the universal selector (*) do in CSS?

The universal selector (*) matches all elements on the page. It applies styles to every HTML element.

beginner

How do you write a CSS rule that sets the font color to blue for all elements using the universal selector?

You write:

* { color: blue; }

This changes the text color of every element to blue.

intermediate

True or False: The universal selector can be combined with other selectors to narrow down styling.

True. For example, div * selects all elements inside div elements.

intermediate

Why should you be careful when using the universal selector (*) in CSS?

Because it applies styles to every element, it can slow down the page and override specific styles unintentionally.

beginner

Give an example of using the universal selector to reset margin and padding for all elements.

Example:

* { margin: 0; padding: 0; }

This removes default spacing from all elements, useful for consistent layout.

What does the CSS universal selector (*) select?

A All elements on the page

B Only <div> elements

C Only elements with a class

D Only elements with an ID

The universal selector (*) matches every element in the HTML document.

Which CSS rule uses the universal selector to remove all default margin and padding?

A #all { margin: 0; padding: 0; }

B div { margin: 0; padding: 0; }

C .all { margin: 0; padding: 0; }

D * { margin: 0; padding: 0; }

The rule with * applies margin and padding reset to all elements.

What is a potential downside of using the universal selector (*) in CSS?

A It can slow down page rendering

B It only styles one element

C It does not work in modern browsers

D It only applies to images

Applying styles to all elements can slow down rendering and cause unintended style overrides.

How can you select all elements inside a <section> using the universal selector?

A section

B * section

C section *

D *

The selector 'section *' selects every element inside all

elements.

Which of these selectors is the universal selector?

A #

B *

C .

D >

The asterisk (*) is the universal selector in CSS.

Explain what the universal selector (*) does in CSS and give a simple example.

Think about how you would style every element on a page at once.

Describe one advantage and one disadvantage of using the universal selector in your CSS.

Consider performance and control over styling.