{"id":130002,"date":"2022-04-13T17:50:26","date_gmt":"2022-04-13T21:50:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brainstation.io\/?post_type=codex-reference&#038;p=130002"},"modified":"2025-02-04T14:56:04","modified_gmt":"2025-02-04T19:56:04","slug":"what-is-css","status":"publish","type":"codex-reference","link":"https:\/\/brainstation.io\/learn\/html\/what-is-css","title":{"rendered":"What is CSS?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<header class=\"wp-block-bstn-blocks-hero-with-overview bstn-blocks-hero-with-overview\"><div class=\"bstn-blocks-hero-with-overview__full-width-wrapper bstn-blocks-hero-with-overview__full-width-wrapper--main\"><svg fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"bstn-blocks-hero-with-overview__bg-flair--full\"><g opacity=\"0.35\"><path d=\"M-103.887 96.613H499.5\" stroke=\"#3C4556\" strokelinecap=\"square\"><\/path><path cliprule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M174.55-136.427v254.863-254.863zm139.219 0v254.863-254.863zm139.219 0v254.863-254.863zM35.332-232v350.436V-232z\" stroke=\"#3C4556\" strokelinecap=\"square\"><\/path><path fillrule=\"evenodd\" cliprule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M35.361 100.134c1.76 0 3.187-1.446 3.187-3.23 0-1.783-1.427-3.23-3.187-3.23-1.76 0-3.187 1.447-3.187 3.23 0 1.784 1.427 3.23 3.187 3.23zm139.17 0c1.76 0 3.187-1.446 3.187-3.23 0-1.783-1.427-3.23-3.187-3.23-1.76 0-3.187 1.447-3.187 3.23 0 1.784 1.427 3.23 3.187 3.23zm139.169 0c1.761 0 3.187-1.446 3.187-3.23 0-1.783-1.426-3.23-3.187-3.23-1.76 0-3.187 1.447-3.187 3.23 0 1.784 1.427 3.23 3.187 3.23zm139.17 0c1.76 0 3.187-1.446 3.187-3.23 0-1.783-1.427-3.23-3.187-3.23-1.76 0-3.187 1.447-3.187 3.23 0 1.784 1.427 3.23 3.187 3.23z\" fill=\"#3C4556\"><\/path><path d=\"M-244.061 214.487H499.5\" stroke=\"#3C4556\" strokelinecap=\"square\"><\/path><path cliprule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M174.55 214.009v254.863-254.863zm139.219 0v254.863-254.863zm139.219 0v254.863-254.863zM35.332 118.436v350.436-350.436z\" stroke=\"#3C4556\" strokelinecap=\"square\"><\/path><path fillrule=\"evenodd\" cliprule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M35.361 218.03c1.76 0 3.187-1.446 3.187-3.23 0-1.783-1.427-3.229-3.187-3.229-1.76 0-3.187 1.446-3.187 3.229 0 1.784 1.427 3.23 3.187 3.23zm139.17 0c1.76 0 3.187-1.446 3.187-3.23 0-1.783-1.427-3.229-3.187-3.229-1.76 0-3.187 1.446-3.187 3.229 0 1.784 1.427 3.23 3.187 3.23zm139.169 0c1.761 0 3.187-1.446 3.187-3.23 0-1.783-1.426-3.229-3.187-3.229-1.76 0-3.187 1.446-3.187 3.229 0 1.784 1.427 3.23 3.187 3.23zm139.17 0c1.76 0 3.187-1.446 3.187-3.23 0-1.783-1.427-3.229-3.187-3.229-1.76 0-3.187 1.446-3.187 3.229 0 1.784 1.427 3.23 3.187 3.23z\" fill=\"#3C4556\"><\/path><path d=\"M534.544 96.613h140.811m138.263 0H1417\" stroke=\"#3C4556\" strokelinecap=\"square\"><\/path><path cliprule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M674.718 96.772v21.664-21.664zM813.618-232v350.436V-232zm139.218 0v350.436V-232z\" stroke=\"#3C4556\" strokelinecap=\"square\"><\/path><path fillrule=\"evenodd\" cliprule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M535.357 100.134c1.761 0 3.187-1.446 3.187-3.23 0-1.783-1.426-3.23-3.187-3.23-1.76 0-3.187 1.447-3.187 3.23 0 1.784 1.427 3.23 3.187 3.23zm139.17 0c1.76 0 3.187-1.446 3.187-3.23 0-1.783-1.427-3.23-3.187-3.23-1.76 0-3.187 1.447-3.187 3.23 0 1.784 1.427 3.23 3.187 3.23zm139.169 0c1.761 0 3.187-1.446 3.187-3.23 0-1.783-1.426-3.23-3.187-3.23-1.76 0-3.187 1.447-3.187 3.23 0 1.784 1.427 3.23 3.187 3.23zm139.17 0c1.76 0 3.187-1.446 3.187-3.23 0-1.783-1.427-3.23-3.187-3.23-1.76 0-3.187 1.447-3.187 3.23 0 1.784 1.427 3.23 3.187 3.23z\" fill=\"#3C4556\"><\/path><path d=\"M673.444 214.487H1417\" stroke=\"#3C4556\" strokelinecap=\"square\"><\/path><path cliprule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M674.718 118.436v228.739-228.739zm138.9 0v350.436-350.436zm139.218 0v350.436-350.436z\" stroke=\"#3C4556\" strokelinecap=\"square\"><\/path><path fillrule=\"evenodd\" cliprule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M813.696 218.03c1.761 0 3.187-1.446 3.187-3.23 0-1.783-1.426-3.229-3.187-3.229-1.76 0-3.187 1.446-3.187 3.229 0 1.784 1.427 3.23 3.187 3.23zm139.17 0c1.76 0 3.187-1.446 3.187-3.23 0-1.783-1.427-3.229-3.187-3.229-1.76 0-3.187 1.446-3.187 3.229 0 1.784 1.427 3.23 3.187 3.23zm-278.339 0c1.76 0 3.187-1.446 3.187-3.23 0-1.783-1.427-3.229-3.187-3.229-1.76 0-3.187 1.446-3.187 3.229 0 1.784 1.427 3.23 3.187 3.23z\" fill=\"#3C4556\"><\/path><\/g><\/svg><div class=\"bstn-blocks-hero-with-overview__container\"><div class=\"bstn-blocks-hero-with-overview__copy-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"bstn-blocks-hero-with-overview__title-icon\" src=\"https:\/\/d3ghupt9z9s6o0.cloudfront.net\/app\/uploads\/2022\/04\/12102435\/HTML-CSS-Light.svg\" alt=\"\"\/><p class=\"bstn-blocks-hero-with-overview__subtitle\"><meta charset=\"utf-8\"><strong><meta charset=\"utf-8\"><\/strong>HTML &amp; CSS References<\/p><h1 class=\"bstn-blocks-hero-with-overview__title\">What is CSS?<\/h1><p class=\"bstn-blocks-hero-with-overview__description\">Learn how the CSS programming language is used to define styles on a web page.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"bstn-blocks-hero-with-overview__image-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"bstn-blocks-hero-with-overview__image\" src=\"https:\/\/d3ghupt9z9s6o0.cloudfront.net\/app\/uploads\/2022\/04\/12115013\/HTML-CSS-Light-Transparent.svg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"bstn-blocks-hero-with-overview__full-width-wrapper bstn-blocks-hero-with-overview__full-width-wrapper--offset\"><div class=\"bstn-blocks-hero-with-overview__container\"><div class=\"bstn-blocks-hero-with-overview__card-container\"><div class=\"bstn-blocks-hero-with-overview__copy-card\"><nav class=\"bstn-blocks-hero-overview\"><h2 class=\"bstn-blocks-hero-overview__title\"><meta charset=\"utf-8\">Tutorial Contents<\/h2><ol class=\"bstn-blocks-hero-overview__list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-bstn-blocks-overview-link bstn-blocks-hero-overview-link bstn-blocks-hero-overview-link--indent-0\" style=\"margin-left:0px\"><a class=\"bstn-blocks-hero-overview-link__anchor\" href=\"#introduction-to-css\">Introduction to CSS<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-bstn-blocks-overview-link bstn-blocks-hero-overview-link bstn-blocks-hero-overview-link--indent-0\" style=\"margin-left:0px\"><a class=\"bstn-blocks-hero-overview-link__anchor\" href=\"#what-is-css-used-for\">What is CSS Used For?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol><\/nav><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/header>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-bstn-blocks-heading bstn-blocks-heading bstn-blocks-heading--h3 bstn-blocks-heading--mt-0 has-text-align-left\" id=\"introduction-to-css\"><h2 class=\"bstn-blocks-heading__heading-element\"><meta charset=\"utf-8\">Introduction to CSS<\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:75%\">\n<p class=\"is-style-bstn-paragraph-documentation-body\">CSS is the language that is used to define styles on a web page, including colors, fonts, layout, and other design elements. Standing for Cascading Style Sheets, CSS explains how HTML elements should be displayed and arranged on a computer screen, mobile device, or in other media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-bstn-paragraph-documentation-body\">CSS and HTML are actually independent from one another \u2014 CSS can, in fact, be used with any XML-based markup language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-bstn-paragraph-documentation-body\">Still, HTML and CSS are often associated because of how seamlessly they pair together. For instance, using the class attribute on any HTML element allows you to easily target that element from CSS (or JavaScript).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-bstn-paragraph-documentation-body\">Although most Web Developers would need a variety of programming languages to do their job, learning HTML and CSS would be enough for a beginner to build their first web page.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:25%\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-bstn-blocks-section-divider bstn-blocks-section-divider bstn-blocks-section-divider--grey\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-bstn-blocks-heading bstn-blocks-heading bstn-blocks-heading--h3 has-text-align-left\" id=\"what-is-css-used-for\"><h2 class=\"bstn-blocks-heading__heading-element\"><meta charset=\"utf-8\">What is CSS Used For?<\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-2 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:75%\">\n<p class=\"is-style-bstn-paragraph-documentation-body\">CSS is used to describe to a browser how HTML elements should appear to a user. Each browser has its own default CSS, but as soon as we know how to write CSS ourselves, we can change how we present our HTML elements to a user.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-bstn-paragraph-documentation-body\">Depending on how the user is interacting with a web page, these web pages can appear differently. Some of the ways are on-screen (within a browser), in print (when a web page is printed on paper), or by voice (when a web page is accessed using a screen-reader). Using CSS for web browsers means making a website more stylistic and beautiful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-bstn-paragraph-documentation-body\">CSS is integral to the web development process. Without CSS, simple websites could look like a plain text document. CSS is not only used for styling but also for adding animations, visual cues and designs that are accessible by everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-bstn-paragraph-documentation-body\">Ultimately, CSS just styles already existing HTML elements. So it is very important for a CSS file to know which HTML element it is styling and for a HTML file to know where all the styles reside.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:25%\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-bstn-blocks-content-navigation-footer bstn-blocks-content-nav-footer bstn-blocks-content-nav-footer--article\"><div class=\"bstn-blocks-content-nav-footer__links-container\"><div class=\"bstn-blocks-content-nav-footer__link-container\"><p class=\"bstn-blocks-content-nav-footer__link-title bstn-blocks-content-nav-footer__link--desktop\">Previous Tutorial<\/p><a class=\"bstn-blocks-content-nav-footer__link\" href=\"\/learn\/html\/css\"><span class=\"bstn-blocks-content-nav-footer__link-icon-wrapper bstn-blocks-content-nav-footer__link-icon-wrapper--left\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 18 18\" fill=\"none\" class=\"bstn-blocks-content-nav-footer__link-icon bstn-blocks-content-nav-footer__link-icon--left\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M6.345 12.743a1 1 0 001.31 1.511l5.477-4.749a1 1 0 000-1.511l-5.477-4.75a1.001 1.001 0 00-1.31 1.512l4.606 3.993-4.606 3.994z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"bstn-blocks-content-nav-footer__link-text bstn-blocks-content-nav-footer__link--desktop\">HTML and CSS<\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"bstn-blocks-content-nav-footer__link-container\"><p class=\"bstn-blocks-content-nav-footer__link-title\">Next Tutorial<\/p><a class=\"bstn-blocks-content-nav-footer__link\" href=\"\/learn\/html\/css-syntax\"><span class=\"bstn-blocks-content-nav-footer__link-text\">CSS Syntax<\/span><span class=\"bstn-blocks-content-nav-footer__link-icon-wrapper bstn-blocks-content-nav-footer__link-icon-wrapper--right\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 18 18\" fill=\"none\" class=\"bstn-blocks-content-nav-footer__link-icon bstn-blocks-content-nav-footer__link-icon--right\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M6.345 12.743a1 1 0 001.31 1.511l5.477-4.749a1 1 0 000-1.511l-5.477-4.75a1.001 1.001 0 00-1.31 1.512l4.606 3.993-4.606 3.994z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-bstn-blocks-container bstn-blocks-container bstn-blocks-container--dark-blue bstn-blocks-container--64 bstn-blocks-container--negative-container bstn-blocks-container--overflow-hidden\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 1140 621\" fill=\"none\" class=\"bstn-blocks-container__bg-flair\"><g opacity=\"0.55\"><path stroke=\"#3C4556\" strokelinecap=\"square\" d=\"M60.026 736.434V203.02\"><\/path><path stroke=\"#3C4556\" strokelinecap=\"square\" d=\"M60.364 436.132L-120 436.131l180.364.001zm0-99.873H-120 60.364zm0-99.872H-120 60.364zM128 536.004h-248 248z\" cliprule=\"evenodd\"><\/path><path fill=\"#3C4556\" fillrule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M57.518 535.982a2.286 2.286 0 114.572 0 2.286 2.286 0 01-4.572 0zm0-99.836a2.286 2.286 0 114.572-.002 2.286 2.286 0 01-4.572.002zm0-99.837a2.286 2.286 0 114.572-.002 2.286 2.286 0 01-4.572.002zm0-99.837a2.286 2.286 0 114.572-.002 2.286 2.286 0 01-4.572.002z\" cliprule=\"evenodd\"><\/path><\/g><g opacity=\"0.55\"><path stroke=\"#3C4556\" strokelinecap=\"square\" d=\"M979.195-28.206V397.98m81.185-524.745V397.98\"><\/path><path stroke=\"#3C4556\" strokelinecap=\"square\" d=\"M1141.45 168.46H964h177.45zm0 98.334H964h177.45zm0 98.333H964h177.45zm66.55-295H964h244z\" cliprule=\"evenodd\"><\/path><path fill=\"#3C4556\" fillrule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M1138.66 70.148a2.244 2.244 0 104.49 0 2.246 2.246 0 10-4.49-.001zm-80.21 0c0 1.243 1.01 2.251 2.25 2.251s2.25-1.008 2.25-2.251c0-1.243-1.01-2.251-2.25-2.251s-2.25 1.008-2.25 2.25zm-81.707 0a2.25 2.25 0 104.5.004 2.25 2.25 0 00-4.5-.005zm81.707 98.299a2.252 2.252 0 002.25 2.251 2.252 2.252 0 000-4.503 2.253 2.253 0 00-2.25 2.252zm-81.707 0a2.25 2.25 0 104.498 0 2.25 2.25 0 00-2.249-2.252 2.25 2.25 0 00-2.249 2.252zm161.917-.001a2.244 2.244 0 104.49 0 2.246 2.246 0 10-4.49 0zm0 98.299a2.244 2.244 0 104.49 0 2.246 2.246 0 10-4.49 0zm-80.21 0c0 1.243 1.01 2.251 2.25 2.251s2.25-1.008 2.25-2.251c0-1.243-1.01-2.251-2.25-2.251s-2.25 1.008-2.25 2.251zm-81.707 0a2.25 2.25 0 104.5.002 2.25 2.25 0 00-4.5-.002zm81.707 98.299c0 1.243 1.01 2.251 2.25 2.251s2.25-1.008 2.25-2.251c0-1.243-1.01-2.251-2.25-2.251s-2.25 1.008-2.25 2.251zm-81.707 0a2.25 2.25 0 104.5.002 2.25 2.25 0 00-4.5-.002zm161.917 0a2.244 2.244 0 104.49 0 2.246 2.246 0 10-4.49 0z\" cliprule=\"evenodd\"><\/path><\/g><\/svg><div class=\"bstn-blocks-container__wrapper bstn-blocks-container__wrapper--readable-width bstn-blocks-container__wrapper--negative-container\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-3 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-bstn-blocks-heading bstn-blocks-heading bstn-blocks-heading--h2 has-text-align-left bstn-blocks-heading--divider\"><h3 class=\"bstn-blocks-heading__heading-element\">Learn HTML &amp; CSS Today<\/h3><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Get hands-on experience writing real code while you learn with interactive tutorials in our free online learning platform &#8211; no downloads or complicated setup required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:16px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list is-style-kg-list-checklist-alternate\"><li>Free and fun<\/li><li>Designed for beginners<\/li><li>No download or setup required<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:16px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-bstn-button-primary\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link\" href=\"\/learn\/html\">Get Started<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div style=\"height:48px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video autoplay loop muted src=\"https:\/\/d3ghupt9z9s6o0.cloudfront.net\/app\/uploads\/2022\/04\/13110641\/CSS-promo-clip.mp4\"><\/video><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>CSS is the language that is used to define styles on a web page, including colors, fonts, layout, and other design elements. Standing for Cascading Style Sheets, CSS explains how HTML elements should be displayed and arranged on a computer screen, mobile device, or in other media. CSS and HTML are actually independent from one [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"parent":129964,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-130002","codex-reference","type-codex-reference","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/brainstation.io\/wp\/api\/wp\/v2\/codex-reference\/130002","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/brainstation.io\/wp\/api\/wp\/v2\/codex-reference"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/brainstation.io\/wp\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/codex-reference"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/brainstation.io\/wp\/api\/wp\/v2\/codex-reference\/130002\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":133456,"href":"https:\/\/brainstation.io\/wp\/api\/wp\/v2\/codex-reference\/130002\/revisions\/133456"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brainstation.io\/wp\/api\/wp\/v2\/codex-reference\/129964"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/brainstation.io\/wp\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=130002"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brainstation.io\/wp\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=130002"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brainstation.io\/wp\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=130002"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}