Cascading Style Sheets

Cascading Style Sheets, also known as CSS, is a style sheet language that was initially created to help in the formatting process of documents that were written in some form of markup language. Most often, HTML or XHTML pages were styled using some form of CSS. Now, we say ‘some form’ because there have been three revisions to this language, which currently leaves us at CSS 3. Here, we’re going to learn more about cascading style sheets, the CSS code, and what the latest revision will offer in terms of modules, and backwards compatibility.

CSS

CSS is used to help determine how a particular type of content will be viewed within a browser. This includes backgrounds, fonts and colors as well. After some time with the original CSS, CSS 2 was developed and implemented only a year after HTML 4 was released in 1997. At that time, it was extremely effective at providing a variety of different styles and appearances for websites that were created in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Although very effective, as time moved forward, this particular CSS code would need to be revised because of its limitations. It became extremely restrictive, as it only supported a handful of effects, styles, and fonts.

CSS Code

Because of the demand for better backgrounds, more fonts, more styles, and a variety of different effects, the CSS code would need to be reestablished with new structure and visually appealing complex elements. As a result, the level 3 modules were created. Each of these modules has added a number of different capabilities as well as extended features. In addition, this new level 3 offers backwards compatibility with all previous versions. Because of the struggling HTML 4, more and more developers and designers have been looking for additional ways to enhance web designs, which will allow their visitors to easily interact.

CSS 3

With CSS 3, Web designers will now have better functionality through a variety of different options. With this revision they will be able to provide better visual effects, easy animation and transformation, new forms and validation, better styles for tables, a number of custom fonts, better backgrounds, and the ease of working with HTML 5. You see, it’s important to understand that many of the individuals that spend time online will not be there simply to look at a few images and read content on a website. Although these features are important, visitors would like to collaborate on work projects, listen to the radio, watch TV, chat with friends, and view high quality videos. Before, this was only possible with the use of plug-ins. Now, code can be written, which will support this technology without the use of any additional plug-ins from third party sources.

With that said, you now have a better understanding about cascading style sheets, the code, and what you can look forward to if you decide to use CSS 3. As you can determine from the information provided above, these level 3 revisions will provide you with all that is needed in order to provide an exceptional online viewing experience for your current and future visitors.



This concludes the Cascading Style Sheets – CSS overview. You are now ready to begin the tutorial.