Match only the first descendent in pure css?

Question

Is there an elegant way in pure css to match only the first descendent -- similar to jquery first()?

in jQuery:

$(\".outer .title\").first();


        

Answer 1

Look up CSS selectors - W3Schools CSS Selectors

This might be what you're looking for though:
.outer .thing:first-child {}

You could also try nth-child()

Answer 2

Update: this answer is based on a structure which has now been edited in the question:

<div class="outer">
    <div class="thing">
        <div class="inner">
            <div class="thing" />
        </div>
    </div>
</div>

With nesting like that, the best option is to revert the styles if the object is within itself;

.outer .thing { /* styles */ }
.thing .thing { /* revert styles */ }

With a structure like this:

<div class="outer">
    <div class="thing" />
    <div class="inner">
        <div class="thing" />
    </div>
</div>

You have fewer options;

/* assume thing will always be a direct child of outer */
.outer > .thing {}

/* assume thing will always be the VERY FIRST child of outer */
.outer > thing:first-child {}

/* assume thing will always be inside the VERY FIRST child of outer */
.outer > .thing:first-child, .outer > *:first-child .thing {}

/* assume the thing you don't want will always be inside inner */
.outer .thing {}
.inner .thing { /* revert styles */ }

Both structures are silly though. This looks like headings/sub-headings, in which case you can do this:

<header>
    <h1></h1>
    <p></p>
</header>

or

<hgroup>
    <h1></h1>
    <h2></h2>
</hgroup>

or to stay away from standard tags:

<div class="outer">
    <div class="title" />
    <div class="subtitle" />
</div>

or using multiple classes

<div class="outer">
    <div class="title maintitle" />
    <div class="inner">
        <div class="title subtitle" />
    </div>
</div>