5 Projects to Help You Master Modern CSS

Many people think CSS is not a programming language, and I agree - it is harder to master. Proficiency in CSS requires design ability, determination, creativity, experience, and coding skills (especially when using preprocessors such as Sass).

CSS suggests layout and style to the browser. The browser can explain these suggestions at will, and even users or devices can ignore or overwrite any attributes. Creating high-performance code that works well on all devices and screen resolutions is a challenge and few people try or successfully complete it. However, the rewards can be exciting.

From the easiest way to start, the following project suggestions will help you embark on the CSS mastery path with books provided by SitePoint Premium.

Key Points

Proficiency in CSS requires design ability, determination, creativity, experience and coding skills. Creating high-performance code that works well on all devices and screen resolutions can be challenging, but the rewards can be exciting.
Five projects that can help improve CSS skills include making websites easier to print, applying modern CSS themes to existing websites, redesigning form layouts, increasing website speed, and starting a new project or CSS component from scratch.
Using modern browser developer tools can help evaluate performance and discover optimization goals. Techniques such as critical CSS and progressive CSS loading ensure stylesheets are loaded efficiently.
Mastering modern CSS projects requires understanding CSS basics and best practices, including using CSS resets, mobile-first approaches to responsive design, CSS preprocessors like Sass, CSS Grid and Flexbox, and keeping CSS organized and Add good comments.

1. Make the website easier to print

Get the website you are working on and try to print (or print a preview) page. Are you satisfied with the results?

HTML pages are continuous media and may not necessarily work well on printing media. Inappropriate chapters, scaling, text size, column size, and missing or cropped content can all lead to poor access to print experiences, and few developers will consider this issue.

Luckily, printing CSS can be developed in a few hours. This is usually a matter of resetting styles (white text on black), deleting unnecessary chapters (menu, hero images, forms, social media widgets, etc.), linearizing layouts, and reducing paper and ink usage.

Dig into browser-based developer tools (from CSS Master) and Browser DevTool Secrets to learn how to check and modify styles after switching to print rendering.

Applying CSS Conditionally (from CSS Master) describes how to define @media query rules, including printing style sheets.

Consider your Strategy Guide to CSS Custom Properties (from New Frontiers In Web Design) to determine if CSS variables can help with printing properties. Also consider Accessibility (from CSS Animation 101) to turn off animations or print them at the best.

Finally, How to Create Printer-friendly Pages with CSS (from CSS Tools & Skills) provides a complete print optimization tutorial with tips for saving ink and paper costs.

2. Apply modern CSS themes to existing websites

Single color scheme is boring! Everyone expects dark mode options in their operating systems and applications, so why not add one to your website?

Until recently, theme switches often required an additional set of styles and JavaScript-driven switch controls. However, modern browsers use CSS custom properties (variables) and prefers-color-scheme @media rules to make life easier.

Strategies for Theming (from New Frontiers In Web Design) provides a range of ideas and notes when designing new themes.

Applying CSS Conditionally (from CSS Master) describes how to define @media query rules, including prefers-color-scheme.

Lastly, Modern CSS: Adding a CSS Dark Theme (from Modern CSS) provides a complete tutorial on enabling dark themes.

3. Redesign the form layout

Check the forms on your website, such as query or sign up forms. Unless it is recently coded, it is likely to be implemented using container DIV and floating-based layouts that may break on smaller screens. Older forms may use unnecessary JavaScript or have poor accessibility.

A Registration Form (from Form Design Patterns) describes the best way to design, style and encode forms using HTML5.

CSS Grid allows you to eliminate unnecessary tags and create a bulletproof and responsive layout without using media queries. The following CSS Grid tutorial will help you get started quickly:

• Production-ready CSS Grid Layouts (from New Frontiers In Web Design)
• Creating Layouts with CSS Grid (from Master CSS), and
• "CSS Grid Layout" (from "Jump Start Responsive Web Design")

Lastly, Make Forms Great with CSS Grid (from CSS Grid Layout) provides a complete tutorial that provides a grid-based form layout and floating fallbacks for older browsers.

4. Improve website speed

At the beginning of 2020, the average web page required 2MB of downloads, which took 20 seconds to fully display on a regular mobile device. CSS accounts for 65KB and is distributed in seven files. This doesn't seem to matter, but the stylesheet properties have an impact.

Spend a few hours to check your existing website to determine if you can replace or optimize images, fonts, and JavaScript effects with more efficient CSS. Your CSS code may grow, but the overall weight will drop and performance will be significantly improved.

Testing Tools (from Jump Start Web Performance) and Debugging for UI Responsiveness (from CSS Master) explain how to use modern browser developer tools to evaluate performance and discover optimization goals.

Loading Assets on the Web (from New Frontiers In Web Design) describes how to use technologies such as critical CSS and progressive CSS loading to ensure that style sheets are loaded efficiently. 20 Tips for Optimizing CSS Performance (from Modern CSS) provides some practical tips.

Lastly, Jump Start Web Performance contains dozens of fast, deeper and life-changing development suggestions to ensure your website stays fast for everyone.

5. Start a new project or CSS component

The above project recommendations can be used to improve existing websites, but there are no restrictions or constraints when starting a new project from scratch. Options to consider:

1. Create an online resume. Extra points: Make sure it is responsive, prints well, and encodes all resources into a single HTML file that can be sent via email. (Tip: Avoid adding JavaScript to make sure it is not blocked by the email system.)
2. Create an interactive portfolio. A graphical list of all websites, additional information will be displayed when clicking on an item. Grid layouts are ideal, but if you really want to challenge it, try masonry layouts. (CSS Grid is not able to achieve this yet, but consider how to do this using CSS columns or vertically sorted grid layout.)
3. Coding graphic design. Maybe you can choose an attractive idea from Dribbble or similar design community and encode it using HTML5 and CSS3. Extra points: Create it without framework or JavaScript!
4. Create CSS-only images. Create a useful set of icons using pseudo-elements and CSS shapes, or build an image with gradients and shadows.
5. Try SVG and CSS animations. Try creating attractive logos, charts, progress bars, activity spinners, and more.

Developer and browser tools:

• 《The DOM, CSS and Animations》 (from "Browser DevTool Secrets")
• "How to Use Gulp.js to Automate Your CSS Tasks" (from "CSS: Tools & Skills")
• 《Jump Start Sass》
• "CSS Debugging and Optimization: Code Quality Tools" (from "CSS: Tools & Skills")
• "CSS Debugging and Optimization: Developer Tools" (from "CSS: Tools & Skills")
• 《Life-Changing Diets》 (from Jump Start Web Performance)
• 《Visual Studio Code: End-to-End Editing and Debugging Tools for Web Developers》

CSS Grid concept:

• 《Redesigning a Site to Use CSS Grid Layout》 (from "CSS Grid Layout")
• "Easy and Responsive Modern CSS Grid Layout" (from "CSS Grid Layout")
• Progressively Enhanced CSS Layouts from Floats to Flexbox to Grid》 (from CSS Grid Layout)
• 《Redesigning a Card-based Tumblr Layout with CSS Grid》 (from "CSS Grid Layout")
• Better Responsive Structures with Grid Systems (from Jump Start Responsive Web Design)

Responsive CSS technology:

• 《14 Essential Responsive CSS Techniques》
• 《Responsive Design》
• 《Jump Start Responsive Web Design》

CSS transition and animation:

• 《CSS Animation 101》
• "Transitions and Animations" (from "CSS Master")
• 《Using CSS Transforms in the Real World》 (from Modern CSS)

Use CSS with SVG:

• "Animating SVG" (from "Practical SVG")
• 《Using CSS with SVG》 (from "CSS Master")
• 《Real World Use of CSS with SVG》 (from Modern CSS)

Stop reading now and start coding!

FAQs on Mastering Modern CSS Projects (FAQ)

What are some best practices for mastering modern CSS projects?

Mastering modern CSS projects requires a good understanding of CSS basics and best practices. These include using CSS reset to ensure consistency between different browsers, using a mobile-first approach for responsive design, and using CSS preprocessors like Sass or Less to make your CSS easier to maintain. Additionally, understanding CSS Grid and Flexbox can help you create complex layouts with less code. Finally, keeping your CSS organized and adding good comments can make it easier for others (or future you) to understand your code.

How to improve my CSS coding skills?

Improve your CSS coding skills through continuous practice and learning. First understand the basics of CSS, then gradually move to more advanced topics. Online tutorials, coding challenges, and open source projects can provide hands-on experience. Additionally, following industry experts and joining the CSS community can help you get to know the latest trends and technologies.

What are some common challenges you encounter when using CSS? How to overcome these challenges?

Some common challenges when using CSS include handling browser inconsistencies, understanding box models, and managing complex layouts. This can be overcome by resetting or normalizing with CSS, understanding the box-sizing properties, and layout using CSS Grid or Flexbox. Additionally, using a CSS preprocessor can help manage large CSS files and make your code easier to maintain.

How to create a responsive design using CSS?

Responsive designs can be created using CSS by using media queries, which allow you to apply different styles for different screen sizes. Additionally, CSS Grid and Flexbox can be used to create flexible layouts that fit the screen size. The mobile-first approach (starting with the smallest screen size and gradually adding styles to larger screens) can also help create effective responsive designs.

What advanced CSS techniques should I learn?

Some advanced CSS techniques you should learn include CSS animations and transitions, CSS variables, and CSS custom properties. Additionally, understanding how to use pseudo-elements and pseudo-classes can help you create more complex styles. It is also beneficial to learn CSS preprocessors like Sass or Less.

How to optimize my CSS for better performance?

CSS can be optimized for better performance by minimizing the number of CSS used, using shorthand properties, and reducing the use of expensive CSS properties. Additionally, using a CSS compressor can help reduce the file size of the CSS, thereby speeding up loading time.

What are some resources for learning advanced CSS?

There are many online resources to learn advanced CSS, including online tutorials, coding challenges and documentation. Websites such as CSS-Tricks, MDN Web Docs, and Smashing Magazine provide in-depth articles and guides on a variety of CSS topics. Additionally, focusing on industry experts and joining the CSS community can provide valuable insights and learning opportunities.

How to debug CSS issues?

You can use browser developer tools to debug CSS issues, which allow you to check elements, view the style of your application, and experiment with different styles in real time. Additionally, understanding CSS cascades, specificity, and inheritance can help you understand why certain styles are not applied as expected.

How to keep CSS organized and easy to maintain?

CSS can be kept organized and easy to maintain by following consistent naming conventions, using comments to describe your code, and organizing CSS into logical parts or separate files. Additionally, using a CSS preprocessor can help manage large CSS files and make your code easier to maintain.

What is the role of CSS in web development?

CSS plays a crucial role in web development by controlling the appearance and feel of a website. It allows you to apply styles to HTML elements, create responsive designs, and even create animations and transitions. Without CSS, web pages will be plain and styleless, making it an important tool for any web developer.

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