CSS Best Practices for Modern Websites

Good CSS architecture helps your project scale and remain maintainable. Here are essential practices.

1. Use CSS Custom Properties

Custom properties (variables) improve maintainability:

:root {
  --primary-color: #ff6600;
  --font-size-base: 13px;
  --spacing-unit: 1rem;
}

.button {
  background-color: var(--primary-color);
  padding: var(--spacing-unit);
  font-size: var(--font-size-base);
}

2. Organize with Methodologies

Choose a methodology like:

• BEM: Block Element Modifier
• OOCSS: Object-Oriented CSS
• SMACSS: Scalable and Modular Architecture
• ITCSS: Inverted Triangle CSS

3. Use Logical Properties

Logical properties work better with internationalization:

/* Instead of margin-left */
margin-inline-start: 1rem;

/* Instead of padding-right */
padding-inline-end: 0.5rem;

4. Mobile-First Approach

Write for mobile first, then add larger screens:

/* Base styles (mobile) */
.container {
  width: 100%;
}

/* Tablet */
@media (min-width: 768px) {
  .container {
    max-width: 768px;
  }
}

/* Desktop */
@media (min-width: 1024px) {
  .container {
    max-width: 1024px;
  }
}

5. Minimize Specificity

Low specificity makes CSS easier to override:

/* Avoid */
.container .header .nav .link {
  color: blue;
}

/* Prefer */
.nav-link {
  color: blue;
}

6. Use Modern Layouts

Grid and Flexbox simplify layouts:

.grid {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fit, minmax(250px, 1fr));
  gap: 1rem;
}

Conclusion

Write CSS with scalability in mind. Use modern features, maintain organized structure, and prioritize performance.

Your future self (and teammates) will appreciate well-structured CSS.