CSS Frameworks
Explore the differences between component-based and utility-first CSS frameworks and understand why Tailwind CSS, a utility-first framework, offers greater flexibility and customization. Learn how Tailwind's utility classes allow precise control over styles, enabling rapid and unique web design without the constraints of traditional frameworks.
We'll cover the following...
CSS is a fundamental technology used to control the presentation and layout of HTML elements on web pages while Tailwind CSS is a utility-first CSS framework designed to streamline the process of designing.
Types of CSS frameworks
There are two main types of CSS frameworks.
- One is based around components—a group that includes frameworks such as Bootstrap, Foundation, and Bulma.
- The other type of CSS framework is based around utilities—a group that includes the likes of Tachyons, Tailwind CSS, and Windi CSS.
For many years, component-based frameworks were the de facto standard for building websites quickly and easily. But all this magic comes with a price. Without serious customization, sites built with such frameworks look similar to each other, and customization can pose significant challenges for anyone who wants to build something more complex and/or creative. Component-based styles are easy to implement, but inflexible and confined to certain boundaries. Solving specificity issues while trying to override the default styles of a particular framework isn’t a fun and productive job.
Utility-first frameworks
Utility-first frameworks were created to ...