Question
Answer and Explanation
When starting a new CSS project or working on an existing one, the first CSS edit you should make is typically to implement a CSS reset or normalization. This is a crucial step to ensure consistency across different browsers.
Why is this the first edit?
Browsers have their own default styles for elements (like margins, padding, and font sizes), and these defaults can vary significantly. This inconsistency can lead to unexpected layout issues and make your designs look different across different browsers. Applying a CSS reset or normalization helps you to start with a clean slate.
CSS Reset vs. CSS Normalization
- CSS Reset: This approach aims to remove all default browser styles, setting all elements to a baseline of zero. It eliminates default margins, padding, and other inconsistencies, giving you complete control. The most popular CSS reset is the one created by Eric Meyer: https://meyerweb.com/eric/tools/css/reset/.
- CSS Normalization: Instead of removing all defaults, normalization aims to make browser styles consistent. It tries to preserve useful defaults and only corrects the inconsistencies, making it less aggressive than reset. A popular and widely used option is Normalize.css: https://necolas.github.io/normalize.css/.
How to implement:
1. Choose a reset or normalization file: Select either a CSS reset like Eric Meyer's or a normalization library like Normalize.css.
2. Include it in your project: Add the chosen CSS file to the very beginning of your stylesheet list in your HTML’s <head> section.
For example:
<link rel="stylesheet" href="path/to/normalize.css">
<link rel="stylesheet" href="path/to/your/main.css">
3. Start styling: After including reset or normalization, begin adding your specific CSS styles. Now, your styling will be consistent across different browsers.
Benefits:
- Ensures a consistent baseline for your styling efforts.
- Reduces the likelihood of browser-specific layout issues.
- Makes your CSS code more manageable and predictable.
In conclusion, starting with a CSS reset or normalization is the essential first step in any serious CSS project. By doing so, you establish a solid and consistent foundation, greatly simplifying your future styling tasks.