The :first-of-type CSS pseudo-class represents the first element of its type among a group of sibling elements.

/* Selects any <p> that is the first element    of its type among its siblings */ p:first-of-type {   color: red; } 

:first-of-type

The :first-of-type CSS pseudo-class represents the first element of its type among a group of sibling elements.

/* Selects any <p> that is the first element    of its type among its siblings */ p:first-of-type {   color: red; } 

Note: As originally defined, the selected element had to have a parent. Beginning with Selectors Level 4, this is no longer required.

Syntax

:first-of-type

Examples

Styling the first paragraph

HTML

<h2>Heading</h2> <p>Paragraph 1</p> <p>Paragraph 2</p> 

CSS

p:first-of-type {   color: red;   font-style: italic; } 

Result

Nested elements

This example shows how nested elements can also be targeted. Note that the universal selector (*) is implied when no simple selector is written.

HTML

<article>   <div>This `div` is first!</div>   <div>This <span>nested `span` is first</span>!</div>   <div>This <em>nested `em` is first</em>, but this <em>nested `em` is last</em>!</div>   <div>This <span>nested `span` gets styled</span>!</div>   <b>This `b` qualifies!</b>   <div>This is the final `div`.</div> </article> 

CSS

article :first-of-type {   background-color: pink; } 

Result

Specifications

Specification
Selectors Level 4 # first-of-type-pseudo

See also

:first-child, :last-of-type, :nth-of-type

Last modified: Aug 12, 2021, by MDN contributors

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