# Understanding the Style Selectors

Style Selectors are used to define how a style will be applied globally to items in a report. Each Style Rule that you create (either in code or using the StyleRule Collection Editor) must be created as one of the following four selectors:

* `TypeSelector`
* `AttributeSelector`
* `StyleSelector`
* `DescendantSelector`

## Available Style Selectors

### TypeSelector

A `TypeSelector` applies to all report items of a particular type, for example a **Telerik.Reporting.TextBox** or a **Telerik.Reporting.PageFooterSection**.

When a style is defined as a `TypeSelector`, the formatting for that style is automatically applied to all items on the report that match the type.

### AttributeSelector

An `AttributeSelector` applies to all report items with a particular attribute (such as Color=Red).

Using an `AttributeSelector` Style Rule, you could specify that any report item on the report that has children (for example. where the value of the `HasChildren` property is equal to `True` ) should be `Bold`.

### StyleSelector

A `StyleSelector` applies to all report items with a particular style name. When defining a `StyleSelector` style, use the `Name` property to create a name for the style. Each report item has a `StyleName` property. By setting the value of `StyleName` to the name of the `StyleSelector` Style Rule, that report item will display the attributes of the named style.

### DescendantSelector

A `DescendantSelector` applies to all parent/child report item combinations. The actual Style Rule for the child can be specified by any type of **Selector**.

For example, you can specify that any **TextBox** that exists inside of a **ReportHeaderSection** should have a particular style using a **TypeSelector** within the **DescendantSelector**.

Alternatively, you can create multiple **StyleSelector** Style Rules with the same Name and that descend from different report item types, such as **DetailSection** or **GroupSection**. Report items with this Name value in their `StyleName` property will apply the correct style based on where they are placed in the report , even if they are moved.

## See Also

* [Using Styles to Customize Reports](https://www.telerik.com/products/reporting/documentation/styling/styling-reports/using-styles-to-customize-reports)
* [Creating Style Rules](https://www.telerik.com/products/reporting/documentation/styling/styling-reports/creating-style-rules)