Is it possible to select the last n items with nth-child?

css css-selectors
DisgruntledGoat picture DisgruntledGoat · Jan 30, 2011 · Viewed 96.5k times · Source

Using a standard list, I'm trying to select the last 2 list items. I've various permutations of An+B but nothing seems to select the last 2:

li:nth-child(n+2) {} /* selects from the second onwards */
li:nth-child(n-2) {} /* selects everything */
li:nth-child(-n+2) {} /* selects first two only */
li:nth-child(-n-2) {} /* selects nothing */

I'm aware of a new CSS3 selectors like :nth-last-child() but I'd prefer something that works in a few more browsers if possible (don't care about IE particularly).

Answer

John Guise picture John Guise · Jul 1, 2011

This will select the last two iems of a list:

li:nth-last-child(-n+2) {color:red;}
<ul>
  <li>fred</li>
  <li>fred</li>
  <li>fred</li>
  <li>fred</li>
  <li>fred</li>
  <li>fred</li>
  <li>fred</li>
  <li>fred</li>
  <li>fred</li>
  <li>fred</li>
</ul>

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