How does CSS decide which rule wins?

Answer

First by origin and importance, then specificity, then source order. Specificity counts inline styles, then ids, then classes/attributes/pseudo-classes, then elements — a single id outranks any number of classes. If specificity ties, the later rule wins. !important overrides the normal cascade and is usually a sign the selector should have been more specific instead.

Points an interviewer listens for

• Order: importance → specificity → source order
• inline > id > class/attribute/pseudo-class > element
• Ties broken by whichever comes last
• !important is an escape hatch, not a tool

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