The use of style elements was established long ago with the rise of word processing applications and desktop publishing (DTP). As a casual Internet surfer, novice, or web user you may have little or no use for CSS, which is an abbreviated term for cascading style sheet. However, those of you with an interest in website design and building web pages are likely already familiar with the term. Stressing in particular, the power of a style sheet in web design, in web site design a cascading style sheet plays an important role and can control almost every aspect of presentation. This article will address the basics of CSS and CSS2, as well as offer hints, tips and tricks to designing better web pages.

What is CSS?

CSS represents Cascading Style Sheet. It is a term used in the design of web pages and web sites. Similarly, CSS2 is the new generation of CSS.  Similar to hypertext markup language (html) pages, the style sheet is embedded in the source code of a web page and sent to the browser when a page is requested. Realistically, CSS is a style sheet that tells a web browser how to present a document.  This presentation information is entered as a part of the web page and is required to be linked to the HTML page. The easiest way to link the STYLE element is by placing the information in the HEADER of the document.  Linking the style sheet, or CSS information in the HEADER of a document, is not the only way to associate the style sheet and HTML information, however, it is the easiest way.

Why Use CSS?

One very important point regarding CSS is the influence it will have on the future adaptability of your web page(s). You will likely need to learn CSS because there is no alternative standard planned for web browser presentation of web pages. Although, CSS is not to be mistaken for desktop publishing because web pages are not the same as paper pages.  In fact CSS is more powerful than DTP.  A STYLE specifies how particular elements on a page appear on screen, in print, or whatever. STYLE may typically define such aspects of a web page presentation as background color, position separating other elements, whether an element is surrounded by a box, the font face, size, and variation, even alignment –right, left or justified- are typical aspects dictated by STYLE.  In practical application, CSS is going to gain in importance on the World Wide Web due to a lack of presentational information in an HTML page.  In reality, new standards are fast becoming the mandate just as wheel chair access is now required in building codes.  Be sure to explore this fascinating Style language and discover how the addition of a style sheet can greatly impact your web pages.

For More CSS Information

Since 1996, the W3C has published the official recommendation for the first CSS specifications.  Among CSS capabilities published and supported:

• Font properties: typeface and various font information
• Color: text, background, and other elements
• Spacing: text attributes related to space of words, letters, and lines of text
• Alignment:  tables, text, images, and other elements
• Margin, border, position, padding
• Classification and identification of specific groups of attributes, elements, etc.

A full introduction to the many uses along with references can be found at Wikipedia.

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