A Comprehensive Tutorial on CSS Variables

CSS variables allow you to define reusable values in CSS that can be used throughout the website or web application.

They make it easier to maintain and update the website’s design. In this tutorial, we will cover the basics of CSS variables, how to use them, and some best practices to follow.

What are CSS Variables?

CSS variables are custom properties that can be defined in CSS and reused throughout the website or web application.

They allow you to define reusable values for colors, font sizes, margins, and other properties that are used throughout the website or web application.

You can define them by using the -- prefix, followed by a name and a value. For example, --primary-color: #007bff; defines a CSS variable named primary-color with the value #007bff.

After creating the CSS variables, you can use them anywhere in the CSS code by referencing the variable name using the var() function. For example, color: var(--primary-color); sets the text color to the value of the primary-color variable.

Using CSS Variables

You can use CSS variables to simplify and improve the maintenance of CSS code.

To use CSS variables, first, define the variable with the -- prefix followed by a name and a value. Then, use the var() function to reference the variable name in the CSS code. Here’s an example:

:root {
  --primary-color: #007bff;
}

.button {
  color: var(--primary-color);
  background-color: white;
  border: 2px solid var(--primary-color);
}

In this example, we defined a --primary-color variable with the value #007bff in the :root selector. Then, we used the var() function to set the color and border properties of the .button selector to the value of the primary-color variable.

Best Practices for Using CSS Variables

Here are some best practices for using CSS variables:

• Define variables in the :root selector to make them global and accessible throughout the website or web application.
• Use meaningful variable names to make the CSS code more readable and easier to maintain.
• Use variables for values that are used repeatedly throughout the website or web application.
• Use fallback values for variables in case they are not supported by the browser. For example, color: var(--primary-color, #007bff); sets the text color to the value of the primary-color variable, or #007bff if the variable is not supported.