Negation

Pseudo-class

:not(selector)

Selects elements that do not match the given selector. Extremely useful for exceptions.

Example

:not(.active) {
  opacity: 0.5;
}
input:not([type='submit']) {
  border: 1px solid #ccc;
}

Specificity

Specificity of argument

Browser Support

All browsers

About the Negation

The :not(selector) CSS selector belongs to the Pseudo-class category.Selects elements that do not match the given selector. Extremely useful for exceptions. Understanding CSS selector specificity and combinators is essential for writing maintainable stylesheets that behave predictably.

The specificity of this selector is Specificity of argument. CSS specificity determines which styles are applied when multiple rules target the same element. Higher specificity values take precedence. The specificity hierarchy from lowest to highest is: universal (*) → type/element → class/attribute/pseudo-class → ID → inline styles → !important.

Browser support for Negation is: All browsers. When using newer CSS selectors like :has(), :is(), or CSS nesting, consider providing fallback styles for older browsers. Use @supports to progressively enhance your stylesheets with modern features while maintaining backward compatibility.

Related Selectors

:is(selector):where(selector):has(selector)