[css] What does the "~" (tilde/squiggle/twiddle) CSS selector mean?

Good to also check the other combinators in the family and to get back to what is this specific one.

  • ul li
  • ul > li
  • ul + ul
  • ul ~ ul

Example checklist:

  • ul li - Looking inside - Selects all the li elements placed (anywhere) inside the ul; Descendant selector
  • ul > li - Looking inside - Selects only the direct li elements of ul; i.e. it will only select direct children li of ul; Child Selector or Child combinator selector
  • ul + ul - Looking outside - Selects the ul immediately following the ul; It is not looking inside, but looking outside for the immediately following element; Adjacent Sibling Selector
  • ul ~ ul - Looking outside - Selects all the ul which follows the ul doesn't matter where it is, but both ul should be having the same parent; General Sibling Selector

The one we are looking at here is General Sibling Selector