I know I can use the “style” declaration [I]within [/I]the <div> tag. However, I’m wondering if I can further refine or limit it so that this style would only applies to certain tags, such as <li>, but not more generally to others such as <p> or <hi>, etc. (all within the confines of the division).
Someone told me that you can’t do this without using CSS <style></ style> tag in the header of the page or a separate CSS file which you reference.
@tracknutJul 09.2012 — #You might apply the style to the <ul> or whatever starts your list. That's not a general solution to your question (which cannot be done) but might address this particular scenario.
(1) Inline <div STYLE="property: value; property2: value;">...</div> as [B]attribute[/B] inside opening element tag. Most "specific" but least efficient.
(2) Embedded in Head of page, encased within HTML tags
(3) Link to external text file (with no HTML <tags>)
<LINK REL="stylesheet" HREF="filename.css">. Least "specific" but most efficient.
The basic CSS selectors for style rules are the HTML elements (such as ul, li, p -- without the lesser-than < and > greater brackets, which create <tag>s). And you can create your own "independent" #ID and .CLASS style selectors.
Besides setting style rules for basic HTML elements, you can "contextually" set more specific rules for nested elements within certain sections -- such as [B]#sidebar ul li {property: value; property2: value;}[/B] -- that differ from those in other sections. And there are all sorts of: Descendant selectors, Child selectors, Adjacent sibling selectors, Attribute selectors, etc. for setting specific style rules.
@auntniniJul 11.2012 — #Should emphasize that using numerous inline STYLE attributes (like Freedda seems to be inclined to do) is about as bad as using deprecated <FONT> tags</FONT>. CSS has freed us of that curse and eliminated the need to individually / manually format each tag.
The HTML tags are for "structure" of the document content; CSS style rules is for the appearance of the page.
Using the various CSS selector options, the HTML <tag>s can be very specifically styled.