Understanding CSS Custom Properties (Variables) and Direct Property Declaration in CSS

Today, CSS preprocessors are a standard for web development. One of the main advantages of preprocessors is that they enable you to use variables. This helps you to avoid copying and pasting code, and it simplifies development and refactoring.

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is a powerful language that allows developers to style and customize the appearance of web pages. When it comes to working with CSS, there are various approaches to declaring and managing property values. Two popular methods are CSS Custom Properties (Variables) and Direct Property Declaration. Let’s delve into these techniques and explore their advantages in modern web development.

CSS preprocessors have become a standard tool in the web development workflow and for good reason. One of the key benefits they offer is the ability to utilize variables, also known as CSS Custom Properties. These variables act as placeholders that store reusable values, eliminating the need for repetitive copying and pasting of code. This approach not only saves time and effort but also simplifies development and refactoring processes.

Understanding the differences between these approaches and when to use each one is crucial for writing efficient and maintainable CSS code. In this blog post, we will explore CSS Custom Properties and Direct Property Declaration, discussing their characteristics, use cases, and benefits.

By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of when and how to leverage these approaches to achieve flexible and modular stylesheets.

CSS Custom Properties (Variables):

Everything important and useful to know about CSS Custom Properties. That they are often referred to as “CSS Variables” but that’s not their real name. A custom property is most commonly thought of as a variable in CSS.

• The approach --section-width: 100vw; width: var(--section-width); involves using CSS custom properties (also known as CSS variables) to define and reuse values across multiple CSS declarations.
• CSS custom properties are defined using the -- prefix, followed by a name and a value. They can be declared globally in the :root selector or scoped within specific elements or selectors.
• This approach promotes reusability, maintainability, and ease of updating values by changing the variable in a central place.
• CSS custom properties provide flexibility and allow for dynamic value changes using JavaScript.
• Custom properties can make code easier to maintain because you can update one value and have it reflected in multiple places. Careful though, overdoing abstraction can make have the opposite effect and make code less understandable.

Example:

:root {
  --section-width: 100vw;
}

section {
  width: var(--section-width);
}

Direct Property Declaration:

• The approach width: 100vw; involves directly setting the desired value (100vw in this case) for the CSS property.
• This is a straightforward and immediate declaration of the desired value without involving additional variables or custom properties.
• This approach is often used when you have a single or specific use case where you don’t anticipate reusing the value or needing dynamic changes.

Example:

section {
  width: 100vw;
}

Both approaches can achieve the same result of setting the width of an element to 100% of the viewport width. The choice between them depends on factors such as the complexity of your project, code organization, and potential reusability.

The best approach ultimately depends on your specific use case and coding preferences. If you anticipate the need to update the width value in multiple places or want to promote code reusability, using CSS custom properties (` — section width) and variables (`var( — section-width)`) can provide benefits. However, for simpler cases, directly setting the width to `100vw` might be more straightforward and efficient.

Consider the complexity and scalability of your project, and choose the approach that aligns with your coding style and requirements.

In final words, both CSS Custom Properties and direct property declaration offer their own advantages in web development. CSS Custom Properties provide reusability, consistency, and dynamic capabilities, making them an essential tool for larger projects and maintaining scalable stylesheets. Direct property declaration, on the other hand, is useful for quick styling needs and situations where extensive reuse is not required.

Understanding these two approaches allows developers to choose the right method based on the specific requirements of their projects. By leveraging the power of CSS Custom Properties and direct property declaration effectively, we can enhance our CSS workflow and create more maintainable, efficient, and dynamic stylesheets.