A cascading style sheet (CSS) is a computer language used to describe the presentation, formatting, and layout of a document written in a markup language such as HTML or XML. CSS acts as a bridge between the content of a web page and its visual representation, enabling web designers and developers to control how elements on a webpage are displayed on different devices and browsers.
CSS allows for the separation of presentation and structure, ensuring a consistent and unified design across multiple web pages. It provides a set of rules, known as selectors, which target specific elements on a webpage, defining their appearance and behavior. These rules are written in a CSS file or embedded directly within the HTML code using style tags.
The term "cascading" in CSS refers to the hierarchy of rules applied to an element. When multiple rules target the same element, the browser follows a specific order, or cascade, to determine which rule takes precedence. Inline styles have the highest priority, followed by embedded styles, and finally, external stylesheets.
CSS offers extensive control over various visual properties, including colors, fonts, spacing, borders, and backgrounds, as well as layout aspects such as positioning and responsiveness. It enables web designers to create dynamic and interactive web pages, adapting to different screen sizes or devices.
Overall, a cascading style sheet is a powerful tool that enhances the aesthetics, consistency, and user experience of web pages. It simplifies the design process, promotes code reusability, and ensures flexibility in adapting to ever-changing web standards and user preferences.
