1. A computer-implemented method comprising: representing a plurality of hierarchical rules as a plurality of objects in a prototype pointer chain; providing a function to search said rules for a desired style by traversing said prototype pointer chain; and processing via a processor instructions stored on computer-readable storage medium to provide a user interface comprising a visual object wherein a visual appearance of the visual object is affected by the desired style; wherein said hierarchy of rules is defined in Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) standard; and wherein said objects in said prototype pointer chain include a first object representing said type rule, said first object being a supertype of a second object, said second object representing said class rule, said second object being a supertype of a third object, said third object representing said inline rule.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said hierarchy of rules is defined in Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) standard.