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How to Inspect Elements in a Web Browser

Right-click a webpage item or activate your browser’s element picker to connect what you see with its DOM node, styles, and layout details.
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Right-click an item on a webpage and choose Inspect or Inspect Element. Your browser’s developer tools will select the matching page element and show its HTML and CSS. You can also open the tools and use their element picker to click an item on the page.

Inspect an element in Chrome

  1. Right-click the page item and choose Inspect, or open DevTools and activate the Inspect mode picker. The picker shortcut is Cmd+Option+C on macOS and Ctrl+Shift+C on Windows, Linux, and ChromeOS.
  2. Move the pointer over the page to preview highlighted elements, then click the one you want.
  3. In the Elements panel, find the selected node in the DOM tree. Use Styles to see applicable CSS; use Computed or the layout tools to examine resolved properties and layout overlays.

Chrome’s picker overlay can show selectors, dimensions, colors, font details, padding, margin, and accessibility information such as the reported name, role, and keyboard focusability. The Elements panel also provides event-listener and accessibility information. Chrome DevTools Elements panel overview · Chrome DevTools Inspect mode.

Inspect an element in Firefox

  1. Right-click an item and choose Inspect Element, or open Web Developer Tools and select the Inspector panel.
  2. Click an item in the page to select its corresponding node, then inspect its HTML and CSS in the Inspector.

To open Developer Tools, use Ctrl+Shift+I or F12 on Windows and Linux, or Cmd+Option+I on macOS. The tools can be docked at the bottom or either side of the browser, or opened in a separate window. Firefox’s Page Inspector includes workflows for the box model, colors, fonts, event listeners, grid, flexbox, and accessibility. Firefox: Open the Inspector · Firefox Page Inspector reference · Firefox DevTools User Docs.

Inspect an element in Microsoft Edge

  1. Open DevTools and click the Inspect tool.
  2. Hover over the rendered page to preview the highlight, then click the target item. The Elements tool selects its corresponding DOM node and displays its CSS styling.
  3. When DevTools has focus, activate the picker with Ctrl+Shift+C on Windows and Linux, or Command+Shift+C on macOS.

Edge’s overlay can show an element’s name, dimensions, color, font, margin, padding, and accessibility information, including contrast, reported name and role, and keyboard focusability. If the target uses pointer-events: none, hold Shift while hovering to target it. Microsoft Edge Elements tool · Microsoft Edge Inspect tool.

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Inspect an element in Safari on Mac

  1. If Safari’s Develop menu is missing, open Safari > Settings, click Advanced, and select Show features for web developers.
  2. Open Safari’s developer tools and use Web Inspector. The Elements tab is the main place to inspect the DOM and associated styles.

Web Inspector also exposes computed properties and style information. Edits made to CSS in the inspector are temporary; WebKit says they are not preserved across page navigations or Web Inspector sessions. Apple Safari User Guide: Develop menu tools · WebKit Elements Tab reference.

What to look for in the inspector

  • DOM tree: The nested structure of elements that make up the page. Selecting a node connects the visible item with its place in that structure.
  • Styles: CSS rules associated with the selected element, useful for finding which declarations affect its appearance.
  • Computed properties and layout: The resolved values and layout tools help explain the element’s final dimensions and placement.
  • Other details: Depending on the browser, tools can expose fonts, event listeners, grid or flexbox overlays, and accessibility properties.

Chrome and Edge overlays can report accessibility cues such as a name, role, keyboard focusability, and text contrast. These are useful inspection aids, not a substitute for testing with assistive technology and keyboard navigation.

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Make temporary changes safely

Developer tools are useful for experimenting with HTML and CSS, such as checking how a different color or spacing value would look. Treat those edits as local investigation: changing a style in the inspector does not edit the website’s original source. In Safari, WebKit specifically notes that CSS edits are not preserved across page navigations or Web Inspector sessions. To make a lasting site change, edit the source or stylesheet in the project that controls the site.

If the picker does not select the item

  • The shortcut does nothing: Shortcuts differ by browser and operating system, and some require DevTools to have focus. Open the tools from the browser’s menu or right-click the page item and use its Inspect option.
  • A nearby or underlying item is selected: Move the pointer slowly and watch the overlay before clicking. In Edge, hold Shift while hovering when the target uses pointer-events: none.
  • You cannot find the CSS value: Check the selected node’s Styles panel for applicable rules, then use Computed or layout tools for resolved values and geometry.
  • The change disappears: Inspector edits are experiments, not a saved change to the site. Make permanent changes in the site’s source project.

Or skip the browser setup

If your goal is a screenshot rather than examining the DOM or CSS, ScreenshotNeo can return a page capture from one request. For example, this cURL command saves a WebP screenshot of Stripe:

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I inspect a webpage on my phone?

The browser workflows described here are for desktop browsers. The cited documentation does not establish a corresponding inspection workflow for mobile browsers.

Does inspecting a webpage change it for other visitors?

No. Changes made in developer tools are local experiments; editing there does not change the site’s original source.

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