CSS Fundamentals Every Developer Should Know

 CSS Fundamentals Every Developer Should Know

1. What Is CSS?

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is the language used to style and layout web pages.


It controls colors, fonts, spacing, positioning, and overall visual appearance.


2. Selectors

Selectors target HTML elements to apply styles.


Types include:


Element Selector: targets all elements of a type, e.g., p { }.


Class Selector: targets elements with a class, e.g., .btn { }.


ID Selector: targets element with an ID, e.g., #header { }.


Attribute Selector: targets elements with specific attributes.


Pseudo-classes and Pseudo-elements: like :hover, ::before.


3. Box Model

Every HTML element is a rectangular box consisting of:


Content (text, images)


Padding (space inside the box, around content)


Border (around padding)


Margin (space outside the border)


Understanding the box model is crucial for layout and spacing.


4. Positioning

Controls how elements are placed on the page:


Static (default flow)


Relative (relative to normal position)


Absolute (relative to nearest positioned ancestor)


Fixed (relative to viewport)


Sticky (switches between relative and fixed)


5. Flexbox

A powerful layout module for creating flexible, responsive layouts.


Key properties include:


display: flex;


justify-content (horizontal alignment)


align-items (vertical alignment)


flex-direction (row, column)


Ideal for one-dimensional layouts.


6. Grid Layout

Two-dimensional layout system for rows and columns.


Use display: grid; with properties like:


grid-template-columns


grid-template-rows


gap


Perfect for complex, grid-based designs.


7. Typography

Control font styles and readability:


font-family


font-size


font-weight


line-height


text-align


Use web-safe fonts or custom fonts via @font-face.


8. Colors and Backgrounds

Use color properties:


color (text color)


background-color


background-image


Supports HEX, RGB, RGBA, HSL, and named colors.


9. Responsive Design

Make layouts adapt to different screen sizes.


Use media queries:


css

Copy

Edit

@media (max-width: 600px) {

  /* styles for small screens */

}

Combine with flexible units like %, em, rem, vh, and vw.


10. Specificity and Cascading

When multiple rules apply, CSS uses specificity and order to decide which style wins.


Inline styles > IDs > Classes > Elements.


The cascade means later rules can override earlier ones.


11. CSS Variables

Custom properties allow reusable values:


css

Copy

Edit

:root {

  --main-color: #3498db;

}

p {

  color: var(--main-color);

}

Summary

Mastering these CSS fundamentals equips developers to build visually appealing, responsive, and well-structured web pages. CSS is both powerful and flexible, making it essential for any web developer.

Learn Full Stack JAVA Training in Hyderabad

Read More

Basics of HTML for Full Stack Java Developers

💻 Frontend Development (HTML/CSS/JavaScript)

Salary Trends for Full Stack Java Developers

Full Stack Java vs MERN Stack: Which to Choose?

Visit Our Quality Thought Training in Hyderabad

Get Directions


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Understanding Snowflake Editions: Standard, Enterprise, Business Critical

Why Data Science Course?

How To Do Medical Coding Course?