What does the "~" (tilde/squiggle/twiddle) CSS selector mean?

Matheus Mello
Matheus Mello
September 2, 2023
Cover Image for What does the "~" (tilde/squiggle/twiddle) CSS selector mean?

🎉 The Mysterious CSS Selector: Unveiling the Secrets of "~"! 🎉

Are you ready to unravel the cryptic secrets of the "~" CSS selector? 🕵️‍♀️ In the realm of CSS, this quirky little character holds tremendous power! 🧙‍♂️✨

You might have stumbled upon it while inspecting some bewildering code, like this:

.check:checked ~ .content {
}

So, what does it actually do? Let's dive in and demystify the enigma! 🤓💡

Understanding the "~" Selector

The "~" selector is aptly known as the sibling combinator in CSS lingo! 🎭 It selects all the elements that come after the specified element and share the same parent. 🎯👫

To put it simply, if you have an element with a class called "check" that is checked, the "~" selector targets all the elements with the class "content" that appear after the "check" element. 😲🔍

Using the "~" Selector in Practice

Now, let's explore some real-world scenarios to showcase the power of the "~" selector. 🚀💪

Example 1: Fancy Tabs

Imagine you have a cool set of tabs on your webpage. When a tab is selected, you want the corresponding content to display. 😎📑

.tab-content {
  display: none;
}

.tab:checked ~ .tab-content {
  display: block;
}

With just a few lines of code, you can seamlessly switch between your awesome tabs! 🎉

Example 2: Stylish Dropdown Menus

Dropdown menus are a web designer's best friend, right? Using the "~" selector, you can create some captivating dropdown effects! 👏🔽

.dropdown-content {
  display: none;
}

.dropdown:hover ~ .dropdown-content {
  display: block;
}

Just hover over the dropdown trigger, and watch the magic unfold! ✨

Closing Thoughts

Congrats, fellow CSS aficionado! You've conquered the "~" selector and gained a powerful tool to supercharge your styling skills! 🎓💪

But remember, with great power comes great responsibility. 🌟 Use the "~" selector wisely and sparingly to maintain a clean and maintainable codebase! 😉

If you have more questions or tips to share, feel free to drop a comment below! Let's continue this marvelous CSS journey together! 🌈🤝💻

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