Sass vs. SCSS: What's the Difference Between These CSS Preprocessors?

Understanding the Distinction Between SCSS and Sass

When it comes to enhancing CSS's capabilities with features like variables and math support, Sass stands out as a valuable pre-processor. But what sets it apart from SCSS? Are they variations of the same language, or are they entirely different entities?

Exploring Sass's Role as a Pre-Processor

To comprehend the difference between Sass and SCSS, it's crucial to recognize the nature of Sass. Sass is a pre-processor for CSS. It operates by transforming style sheets written in an advanced syntax into standard CSS style sheets. However, it's important to note that Sass does not introduce new elements to the CSS standard.

SCSS: A Superset of CSS with a Familiar Syntax

When it comes to SCSS, it emerges as a superset of CSS. This implies that virtually all valid CSS is also valid within the SCSS syntax. Its file extension is .scss. The primary distinction between SCSS and Sass lies in syntax. SCSS adopts a format that closely resembles CSS, utilizing curly braces and semicolons to define the document's structure.

The Legacy Syntax: Sass's Indented Syntax

In contrast to SCSS's similarity to CSS, Sass employs an indented syntax. This was the original convention for Sass and uses a .sass file extension. It shares the same capabilities as SCSS but relies on indentation rather than curly braces and semicolons to delineate the document's structure.

The Essence of Pre-Compilation: Sass and SCSS in Action

Irrespective of the syntax used, both SCSS and Sass operate within the framework of the Sass pre-compiler. Ultimately, both generate standard CSS. They do not act as extensions to the CSS standard but remain separate entities that preprocess and transform CSS into its standard form.

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