CSS or cascading style sheet is a text-based coding language that is used to specify website formats and how a site communicates with web browsers. The language allows web developers to control various style elements and functionalities, such as layout, color, fonts, and the formatting and display of HTML documents.
What’s The Difference Between HTML And CSS?
Anyone can build a website using HTML alone, but it won’t look as good or works as fluidly without CSS. Think of it this way; if HTML is the ball and joints, CSS is the lubricant that makes both move easily and smoothly. You can build a website using one or the other, but using both will yield better results.
Of course, CSS is not perfect and it has its share of disadvantages too.
List of Advantages of Cascading Style Sheets
1. Consistency
The main benefit of CSS is that style is applied consistently across a number of web pages. One command line can control several areas at one time, which is quite advantageous if there are changes that need to be made. You only need to alter one thing and the rest will follow. Because you don’t have to change each page one at a time, web designers can be very efficient in creating and changing a website with only a few lines of code.
2. Improved website speed
Web designers only need to use a small amount of lines of programming for each page. And if there are less code, there are fewer lines to read, resulting in a faster load time for every page. With online users not willing to wait for a website to load, improving site speed will be most advantageous. Owners who bank on website performance to improve search engine rankings and customer base will benefit from CSS.
3. Easy to maintain
Cascading style sheet not only simplifies website development, but also maintenance. All the codes are placed on one page, which means making improvements or changing a few lines will not involve going through several pages. And since a change with a single line of code is applied across the website, maintenance time and effort are significantly reduced.
List of Disadvantages of Cascading Style Sheets
1. Come in different levels
There’s CSS, CSS 1 up to CSS3, which has resulted in confusion among developers and web browsers. One type of CSS should be enough. It would be preferable than having to choose which CSS level to use.
2. Fragmentation
With CSS, what works with one browser may not always work with another. This is why web developers have to test for compatibility, running the program across multiple browsers before a website is set live. If only people use Mozilla or Chrome, but they don’t.
3. Lack of security
Because it is an open text-based system, CSS doesn’t have the built-in security that will protect it from being overridden. Anyone who has a read/write access to a website can change the CSS file, alter the links or disrupt the formatting, whether by accident or design.
Natalie Regoli is a child of God, devoted wife, and mother of two boys. She has a Master's Degree in Law from The University of Texas. Natalie has been published in several national journals and has been practicing law for 18 years.