/* styles for the body element */
        body {
            font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
            height: 100vh;
            margin: 0;
            padding: 0;
            background-color: #1a1a1a;
            display: flex;
            justify-content: center;
            align-items: center;
            position: relative;
        }

        /* styling for a full-screen background logo */
        .background-logo {
            position: absolute;
            top: 0;
            left: 0;
            width: 100%;
            height: 100%;
            background-image: url('images/logo2.png');
            background-position: center;
            background-size: contain;
            background-repeat: no-repeat;
            z-index: -1;
        }

        /* navbar styling */
        .navbar {
            width: 100%;
            height: 60px;
            display: flex;
            align-items: center;
            justify-content: space-between;
            flex-wrap: nowrap;
            align-items: center;
            position: fixed;
            top: 0;
            left: 0;
            padding: 0 20px;
            z-index: 1000;
        }

        /* styling for the dropdown button */
        .dropbtn {
            background-color: transparent;
            color: #a1a1a1;
            font-size: 14px;
            font-family: 'Poppins';
            border: none;
            padding: 5px 10px;
            display: flex;
            align-items: center;
            cursor: pointer;
            transition: color 0.1s;
        }

        /* dropdown container styling */
        .dropdown {
            width: 90px;
            position: relative;
            display: flex;
            align-items: center;
            margin-left: auto;
        }

        /* hidden dropdown content */
        .dropdown-content {
            display: none;
            position: absolute;
            min-width: 150px;
            background-color: #252525;
            box-shadow: 0px 8px 16px 0px rgba(37, 37, 37, 255);
            z-index: 1;
            top: 100%;
            left: -20px;
        }

        /* styling for dropdown links */
        .dropdown-content a {
            color: #a1a1a1;
            padding: 4px 8px;
            display: flex;
            align-items: center;
            text-decoration: none;
            font-size: 14px;
            font-family: 'Poppins';
        }

        /* hover styles for the dropdown button */
        .dropdown:hover .dropbtn {
            color: #4b4b4b;
        }

        /* container for dropdown button */
        .dropdown-button-container {
            display: flex;
            align-items: center;
            justify-content: center;
            padding: 0;
        }

        /* styling for flag images */
        .flag {
            width: 24px;
            height: 16px;
            object-fit: cover;
        }

        /* styling for arrow icon next to dropdown */
        .arrow-container {
            display: flex;
            align-items: center;
        }

        /* styling for the arrow itself */
        .arrow {
            border: solid #a1a1a1;
            border-width: 0 2px 2px 0;
            display: inline-block;
            padding: 2px;
            transition: transform 0.2s, border-color 0.2s;
            margin-bottom: 3px;
        }

        /* rotates arrow to point down */
        .down {
            transform: rotate(45deg);
        }

        /* hover state for dropdown links */
        .dropdown-content a:hover {
            background-color: #3e3e3e;
            color: white;
        }

        /* hover state for arrow color */
        .dropdown:hover .arrow {
            border-color: #4b4b4b;
        }

        /* display dropdown content on hover */
        .dropdown:hover .dropdown-content {
            display: block;
        }

        /* styles for the main article section */
        article {
            display: flex;
            justify-content: center;
            align-items: center;
            height: 100vh;
            padding: 0;
        }

        /* styling for the form */
        /* Add this rule to your existing styles */
        form {
            overflow-y: auto;
            max-height: 80vh;
            width: 40vw;
            max-width: 300px;
            padding: 16px;
            box-shadow: 0px 4px 10px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
            border-radius: 8px;
            border: 3px solid #eb5b1d;
            color: #fff;
        }

        /* bold styling for legend (title) */
        legend {
            font-weight: bold;
            color: #fff;
        }


        /* label styling inside the form (text) */
        form label {
            font-size: 0.8rem;
            display: block;
            color: #fff;
            margin-top: 7px;
            margin-bottom: 3px;

        }

        /* styling for form inputs, selects, and textareas */
        form input,
        form select {
            width: 100%;
            padding: 7px;
            border-radius: 4px;
            border: 2px solid #767676;
            font-size: 0.8rem;
            background-color: #333;
            color: #fff;
        }

        /* button styling inside the form (submit) */
        form button {
            width: 100%;
            padding: 8px;
            background-color: #343a40;
            color: #fff;
            border: none;
            border-radius: 4px;
            font-size: 0.8rem;
            cursor: pointer;
            margin-top: 10px;
        }

        /* hover effect for the form button */
        form button:hover {
            background-color: #23272b;
        }

        /* Styling for the "Don't have an account? Sign Up" link */
        .signup-link {
            display: block;
            text-align: center;
            margin-top: 20px;
            font-size: 0.9rem;
            color: #fff;
            text-decoration: none;
            font-weight: 500;
        }

        .signup-link span {
            color: #eb5b1d;
            /* Highlight "Sign Up" in orange */
            font-weight: bold;
        }

        .signup-link:hover {
            color: #f78c42;
            /* Slight color change on hover */
        }

        /* Styling for the "Don't have an account? Sign Up" link */
        .login-link {
            display: block;
            text-align: center;
            margin-top: 20px;
            font-size: 0.9rem;
            color: #fff;
            text-decoration: none;
            font-weight: 500;
        }

        .login-link span {
            color: #eb5b1d;
            /* Highlight "Sign Up" in orange */
            font-weight: bold;
        }

        .login-link:hover {
            color: #f78c42;
            /* Slight color change on hover */
        }


        .hint {
            color: #eb5b1d;
            font-size: 0.7rem;
        }

        /* Cookie Consent Popup Styling */
        .cookie-consent-popup {
            position: fixed;
            bottom: 0;
            left: 0;
            right: 0;
            background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8);
            color: white;
            padding: 15px;
            text-align: center;
            display: none;
            /* Initially hidden */
            z-index: 1000;
        }

        .cookie-consent-content {
            max-width: 600px;
            margin: 0 auto;
        }

        #acceptCookiesBtn {
            background-color: #28a745;
            color: white;
            border: none;
            padding: 10px 20px;
            cursor: pointer;
            font-size: 16px;
            margin-top: 10px;
        }

        #acceptCookiesBtn:hover {
            background-color: #218838;
        }

        /* smaller error message font size for small screens */
        .hint {
            font-size: 0.55rem;
        }

        /* changes css if screen is small */
        @media (max-width: 600px) {

            /* adjust dropdown width for small screens */
            .dropdown {
                width: 20%;
                position: relative;
                display: flex;
                align-items: center;
                margin-left: auto;
            }

            /* adjust form width for small screens */
            form {
                width: 60vw;
            }


            /* smaller input, select, and textarea font size for small screens */
            form input,
            form select,
            form textarea {
                font-size: 0.6rem;
            }

            /* smaller error message font size for small screens */
            .hint {
                font-size: 0.5rem;
            }
        }