CSS now implements a parent selector-like function through the :has() pseudo-class, allowing the selection of parent elements based on child elements, thereby implementing content-based conditional styles without JavaScript or modifying HTML structure; 1. It can select elements containing specific child elements, such as div:has(h1) to add styles to divs containing h1; 2. It can be used to add margins to chapters containing secondary or tertiary titles according to content style containers, such as section:has(h2, h3); 3. It can highlight navigation groups containing current page links, such as .nav-group:has(a[href="/current-page"]) to set background color; 4. It can apply styles to form groups containing invalid inputs, such as .form-group:has(input:invalid) to display red borders; 5. Modern browsers are already supported, but they need to detect via @supports and provide class name fallback for old browsers; 6. Pay attention to performance overhead and high specificity issues when using them, and avoid excessive nesting to ensure rendering efficiency.

CSS has long lacked a true parent selector — until now. With the introduction of the :has() pseudo-class, developers can finally select an element based on its children (or other descendants), effectively enabling "parent" selection. This is a game-changer for styling elements contextually, without needing extra JavaScript or modifying HTML structure.

What Is the :has() Selector?

The :has() pseudo-class allows you to select an element if it contains a specific child or matches a certain condition. Think of it as “select this parent if it has this child.” While it's not technically selecting the parent directly, it acts like one by filtering ancestors based on their contents.

For example:

 /* Select a div that contains an <h1> */
div:has(h1) {
  margin-bottom: 20px;
}

This rule applies styles to any div that has an h1 as a direct or indirect child.

It works with any valid selector inside the parentses, including classes, IDs, attribute selectors, and even more complex combinations.

Practical Use Cases

1. Styling Containers Based on Content

Imagine you want to add extra spacing to a section only if it includes a heading. Instead of adding a class manually, use :has() :

 section:has(h2, h3) {
  padding-top: 1.5rem;
}

This avoids cluttering your HTML with presentational classes and keeps styling logic in CSS.

2. Navigation Menus with Active Links

You can highlight a navigation group if it contains the current page's active link:

 .nav-group:has(a[href="/current-page"]) {
  background-color: #f0f0f0;
  border-left: 3px solid blue;
}

This makes it easier to style navigation states without JavaScript or server-side logic.

3. Conditional Styling in Forms

Style a form group only when it contains an invalid input:

 .form-group:has(input:invalid) {
  border: 2px solid red;
  padding: 10px;
}

This enables real-time visual feedback purely through CSS, reducing reliance on JavaScript for UI updates.

Browser Support and Fallbacks

As of 2024, :has() is supported in modern versions of Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge. However, older browsers (especially Internet Explorer and early versions of others) do not support it.

To use it safely in production:

• Check current support on CanIUse .
• Provide fallbacks using conventional classes where needed.
• Use @supports to guard advanced styles:

 @supports selector(:has(*)) {
  /* Safe to use :has() */
  aside:has(img) {
    margin: 1rem 0;
  }
}

Alternatively, keep using utility classes as fallbacks for broader compatibility.

A Note on Performance and Specificity

While powerful, :has() can be performance-heavy since the browser must evaluate the contents of elements to determine matches. Avoid overly broad or deeply nested uses, especially on large pages.

Also, :has() has high specificity — it counts as a pseudo-class, so it behaves like :not() , :is() , or :where() . Be mindful when combining it with other selectors to avoid unintended override issues.

For example:

 article:has(p.intro) { /* higher specificity than just 'article' */ }

Use it thoughtfully, and consider wrapping complex logic in @supports or modular components.

Basically, :has() closes a long-standing gap in CSS, letting us write more adaptive, content-aware styles. It's not a replacement for good HTML structure, but it adds flexibility. With growing browser support, now's a great time to start experimenting — just remember to test and plan for fallbacks.

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