Pendantic: basic v. simple selector

[estelle]

We have been using the term simple and complex selector incorrectly. A simple selector is one that uses only one component, like a or :nth-of-type(3n+2). A complex selector is selector that has a combinator, including just a space, such as ul li. A compound selector is one that has multiple components without a space, such as div#myId.myClass.

I am not sure if we want to clarify and be pedantic, but the term we've been using are not fully accurate.

Summary

Motivation

Supporting details

Related issues

Metadata

• Adds a new document
• Rewrites (or significantly expands) a document
• Fixes a typo, bug, or other error

[estelle]

I also slipped a removal of matches() since all browsers support is() and where() now.

[github-actions]

Preview URLs

• https://pr17324.content.dev.mdn.mozit.cloud/en-US/docs/Web/API/Document/querySelector
• https://pr17324.content.dev.mdn.mozit.cloud/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/:first-of-type
• https://pr17324.content.dev.mdn.mozit.cloud/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/:is
• https://pr17324.content.dev.mdn.mozit.cloud/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/Layout_cookbook/Breadcrumb_Navigation
• https://pr17324.content.dev.mdn.mozit.cloud/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/Reference
• https://pr17324.content.dev.mdn.mozit.cloud/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/Specificity

Flaws

Note! 4 documents with no flaws that don't need to be listed. 🎉

URL: /en-US/docs/Web/CSS/:is
Title: :is() (:matches(), :any())
on GitHub
Flaw count: 1

• macros:
  • /en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/h1 redirects to /en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/Heading_Elements

---

URL: /en-US/docs/Web/CSS/Reference
Title: CSS reference
on GitHub
Flaw count: 1

• macros:
  • wrong xref macro used (consider changing which macro you use)

External URLs

URL: /en-US/docs/Web/CSS/:is
Title: :is() (:matches(), :any())
on GitHub

• https://drafts.csswg.org/selectors-4/ (1 time)
• [selectors-4] Rename :matches() to :is() w3c/csswg-drafts#3258 (1 time)

---

URL: /en-US/docs/Web/CSS/:first-of-type
Title: :first-of-type
on GitHub

No new external URLs

---

URL: /en-US/docs/Web/CSS/Specificity
Title: Specificity
on GitHub

No new external URLs

---

URL: /en-US/docs/Web/CSS/Layout_cookbook/Breadcrumb_Navigation
Title: Breadcrumb Navigation
on GitHub

No new external URLs

---

URL: /en-US/docs/Web/CSS/Reference
Title: CSS reference
on GitHub

No new external URLs

---

URL: /en-US/docs/Web/API/Document/querySelector
Title: Document.querySelector()
on GitHub

No new external URLs

[teoli2003]

I think we should be precise on our side (simple, complex, compound).

This doesn't mean being pedantic, that is, it doesn't mean we shouldn't explain at great lengths the difference between the three words. Maybe a mention like you explained here in the glossary.

[hamishwillee]

This doesn't mean being pedantic, that is, it doesn't mean we shouldn't explain at great lengths the difference between the three words. Maybe a mention like you explained here in the glossary.

I agree. If there is a proper definition we shouldn't make up our own. Creating a glossary and linking to it may help us get smarter at spotting the misuse in future.