Change the color of glyphicons to blue in some, but not in all, places using Bootstrap 2

A Detailed Breakdown

To gain precise control, let's get acquainted with CSS specificity and the useful concept of cascade (inheritance):

Utilizing CSS specificity

CSS specificity lets us target specific glyphicons that need a color change. To avoid the spill-over effect of global styles, assign a unique class or ID to the desired glyphicon.

/* Unique class to style */
.blue-glyph { color: blue; } /* You shall be blue! No arguments! 😄 */

/* ID for high specificity */
#blue-glyph-id { color: blue; } /* Here's your id, now go paint yourself blue */
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Capitalizing on inheritance

If a glyphicon is nested within an element, changing the parent’s color will result in a cascading effect to the child elements, unless overridden by more specific rules:

.parent-element { color: blue; } /* Affects child glyphicons */
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Using inline styles

For an immediate change, inline styles can be directly added to the glyphicon element. However, maintainability challenges make this method less preferred:

<i class="glyphicon glyphicon-star" style="color: blue;"></i>
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Tailoring the Right Solution

When Bootstrap's default classes fall short, crafting custom styles is our ticket to glory. Here are several strategies:

Separate class for clarity

Defining a custom class ensures a clear separation of styles and safeguards against possible clashes with Bootstrap's inherent styles.

.glyphicon.custom-icon-color { color: #3498db; } /* Blues Clues - You've found a new color! 😁 */
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Harnessing :not() pseudo-class

For selective color change, :not() pseudo-class can exclude elements matching certain conditions from the style application.

.glyphicon:not(.preserve-color) { color: blue; } /* Everything will be blue, but not you. 😉*/
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Preview in JSFiddle

Before final implementation, preview and fine-tune your styles in a live environment using platforms such as JSFiddle.

1. JSFiddle allows for **real-time edits** and previews.
2. Share and collect feedback on your **code snippets**.
3. Visualize and test different **color schemes**.

Live JSFiddle Example →

Bypass Common Hurdles

Customizing icons can present unexpected challenges. Here's how to stay ahead:

Avoid the usage of !important

Avoid !important as it can spawn maintenance issues and specificity battles. Seek alternative solutions using a more specific selector or increasing specificity.

Ensure Bootstrap version compatibility

Remember, not all solutions for Bootstrap 3 apply to Bootstrap 2.3.2. Always cross-verify version compatibility when modifying visual components.

Mind the parent styles

Parent element styles can leak into your glyphicons, affecting color, and other inheritable styles. Always consider the entire design context when applying changes.