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CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)

CSS is the acronym for Cascading Style Sheets. Developed by the W3C in 1996, CSS is a complementary mechanism to HTML that tells the browser how to style and display the different elements of a web page.

While HTML tells the browser that certain parts of the page are headings, subheadings, paragraphs, links, etc., CSS complements this information so that the font type, size, color, and alignment of each element are displayed correctly.

Here at Mailrelay, we’ll explain how it works.

1. What is CSS used for?

CSS code separates the structure of an HTML document from its presentation. In other words, HTML defines the basic structure of the page (like a skeleton), and CSS adds a customization layer that gives the website its final look.

This way, a web designer can easily change a website’s appearance using CSS without drastically affecting the content. The content remains exactly the same; only how it’s displayed on the screen changes.

2. Types of CSS

There are three ways to link CSS to your website (HTML): external, internal, and inline.

– External CSS. This is CSS that exists as an independent file and is linked to an HTML document using a tag. This is the most common way to add CSS to HTML, as you just need to modify that single document to apply the desired changes across your entire website.

– Internal CSS. Internal CSS is code embedded within the HTML document. This is done using the element inside the section. It’s used to add styles to individual pages or sections of the website.

– Inline CSS. Inline CSS is placed inside an HTML tag to change the style of a specific element. We strongly advise against using it because it doesn’t actually separate style from content.

3. Advantages of CSS

Using Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) brings many advantages; here are some of the most notable ones:

  • Makes it easy to apply visual modifications across an entire site from a single location.
  • Improves loading times.
  • Enhances web usability
  • Makes it easier for search engine spiders to index the website.
  • Simplifies creating optimized versions for different purposes.
  • Makes changes and organization simpler.
  • Reduces file sizes.
  • Allows you to create a responsive website.
  • Simplifies web page creation.
  • Working with standards makes it easier to implement future website improvements.

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