Css selector for text input fields?

Specific targeting and old browser compatibility

When styling forms, form input[type="text"] points to text inputs within forms. If your form has an id myForm, go with #myForm input[type="text"] for precision.

Be versatile and ensure your styles apply to different markup variants for text input fields. Use input:not([type]), input[type=""], and input[type=text] to select inputs with no specified type for comprehensive styling.

Keeping in sync with new HTML input types evolves your CSS. If you're dealing with fossil, sorry, old browsers like IE6, you can use scripts like IE7.js. Alternatively, adding classes to your text inputs, quite likely using jQuery in your document ready event is not a bad idea:

$(document).ready(function() {
  $('input[type="text"]').addClass('text-input');
  /* Attention all text inputs, a class is in session... */
});
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Maintain sanity and avoid conflicts: always separate your stylesheets into main and browser-specific ones. Be conversant with pseudo-classes and attribute selectors. Grab normalize.css and enforce consistency across browsers.

Time to optimize — performance and cleanliness matters

For efficient CSS selection, [type=text] it is. It might be seen as lazy, but it gives superior performance and speedier browser matches; a simple hack for optimized styles.

Keep your styles decluttered: keep the main styles separate from browser-specific styles. This prevents conflicts, makes your code cleaner, and your web pages more maintainable.

Use document.querySelectorAll() to swiftly select your elements. Now, if you are on Team jQuery, remember [type="text"] is not officially in the CSS spec. It's like the unofficial cheerleader for jQuery selectors.

All about looks: CSS font styling and normalization

Empower your text inputs with personality using font-family and other text styling properties in CSS. Believe it, functionality and aesthetics go hand in hand.

For a more consistent look across all browsers, apply Normalize.css or a similar tool. It does the mean job of smoothening out browser quirks such as varying default styles for inputs.

The bigger picture: Advanced styling

Beyond basic selection, ponder on form structure and relationships:

• Using descendant selectors gives you precise control when targeting inputs within specific divs or sections.

• Sticking with child selectors when addressing strictly direct child text inputs, keeps your code lean and unintended styling at bay.

• State-specific styling via pseudo-classes like :focus and :disabled results in engaging interfaces.

• Avoid a hard time tweaking styles or swapping themes with CSS custom properties.

• Remember, no party without testing! Browsers do interpret default styles differently, so ensure style consistency across various browser environments.

Seamless integration and Accessibility: The modern way

Imbibe the culture of Sass or Less and enjoy a vibrant, manageable styling experience. Keep your styles scalable and modular by incorporating CSS methodologies like BEM, SMACSS, or OOCSS.

Don't forget the accessibility factor: Test your forms with screen readers and apply ARIA roles where necessary.