The CSS Grid Layout vs CSS Frameworks Debate

Core points

• CSS grid layout and CSS frameworks such as Bootstrap are used differently in web development. CSS grids allow developers to build complex page layouts using native CSS code, while Bootstrap provides pre-designed components for quickly and efficiently creating web pages.
• While CSS mesh provides flexibility and independence, Bootstrap remains relevant in front-end development with its ready-made components, ease of customization, and practicality as a prototype tool. It is especially useful for developers of legacy websites built with Bootstrap.
• The choice of CSS grid layout and CSS framework depends on the specific requirements of the project. CSS mesh is ideal for complex mesh-based designs, and Bootstrap saves time and effort with pre-designed components and styles. They can also be used together to take advantage of both tools.

Coding of web layouts is no longer as painful with the help of cutting-edge CSS standards like CSS grid layouts and Flexbox. If the browser support for Grid and Flexbox is quite good, then a question will inevitably arise: Why should I consider learning and using CSS frameworks in my development work?

In this article, I will focus on Bootstrap, as it is arguably the most popular of all available CSS UI libraries.

In my opinion, even today, there are still many reasons to learn and use Bootstrap.

The following are some reasons.

What is a CSS grid?

Rachel Andrew (a speaker and writer who is well-known in CSS grid related) defines it as follows:

Grid is a grid system. It allows you to define columns and rows in CSS without defining them in tags. You don't need a tool to help you make it look like a grid, you actually have a grid!

The implementation of this CSS standard provides developers with the much-needed ability to build page layouts using native CSS code, which does not rely on HTML tags except as a wrapper element containing a grid. Imagine the flexibility and creativity potential in web design!

For example, you don't need a custom class or extra line in the tag to build this simple layout:

HTML code is as follows:

<code class="language-html"><div class="grid">
  <header>页眉内容</header>
  <main>主要内容</main>
  <aside>侧边栏</aside>
  <footer>页脚</footer>
</div></code>

As for CSS, you will build your visual layout here. In this simple example, only a few lines of code are needed:

<code class="language-css">.grid {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(12, 1fr);
  grid-template-rows: 50px 150px 50px;
}

header, footer {
  grid-column: span 12;
}

main {
  grid-column: span 8;
}

aside {
  grid-column: span 4;
}</code>

That's it, you're done! not bad.

What is Bootstrap?

At the time of writing, 3.6% of the entire Internet use Bootstrap:

On the Bootstrap website, you will find the following definitions:

Bootstrap is an open source toolkit developed using HTML, CSS, and JS. Use our Sass variables and mixins, a responsive mesh system, a large number of pre-built components, and powerful jQuery-based plug-ins to quickly prototype your ideas or build your entire application.

In other words, Bootstrap provides ready-made components that enable you to create beautiful web pages in no time.

Just write the corresponding tag and your application will look great immediately.

Bootstrap also makes it very easy to customize its appearance and style and allows you to select and select the components you want for your project.

Why do you still need to use Bootstrap when you have a Grid?

The biggest complaint about Bootstrap has always been code bloat. The reason is that it contains additional CSS code that is not used in many projects. The second biggest complaint is that the style of the Bootstrap component is very detailed, which can cause some problems when overwriting certain CSS rules.

Based on the latest version of this popular front-end component library, neither of these criticisms are tenable: Bootstrap is completely modular, so you only need to include the parts you need. Additionally, the structure of the Sass file makes it very convenient to customize the original style to suit your needs.

The main reason for opposing Bootstrap is that using CSS mesh, CSS has its own mesh system, which does not have any external dependencies, and once learned, it allows developers to easily build various layouts.

While I'm a fan of CSS grid, I think Bootstrap still has a place in front-end development and will still be so for some time to come.

The following are at least three reasons.

Bootstrap is not just its grid system

Yes, the primary reason for using Bootstrap is the convenient grid system, which makes building responsive web pages a breeze. However, Bootstrap also has some great components, such as the versatile new card component, which you can use to display various types of content such as text, images, and videos, and a responsive navigation bar out of the box. You can also choose your preferred preset color scheme for most components.

What about many of these components? Using Bootstrap, adding dynamic tooltips, carousels, or drop-down buttons simply write the corresponding markup. If your JavaScript skills are not your strong point, you can still take advantage of these components without writing a single line of JavaScript code.

In addition, if you are not a CSS expert, you can still use the power of Bootstrap for web design while learning the techniques.

Bootstrap is a great prototype tool

Sometimes you just need to provide the customer with a prototype available. Bootstrap allows you to do this immediately, and requires little custom code. This applies not only to grid systems, but also to all the off-the-shelf components it provides.

Just add a small amount of markings and your prototype will have a stylish responsive navigation bar or a nice alarm box.

Processing legacy websites built with Bootstrap

A common task for developers is to deal with existing websites written by other developers. It is undeniable that a large number of websites rely on Bootstrap to build their front-ends. If you need to refactor and maintain the code base, it will be very convenient to know how to use the framework. It’s not by chance that many job information includes Bootstrap in their required skills list.

Conclusion

All in all, Bootstrap will not disappear in the short term. The latest version has been greatly improved from previous versions, from cleverly using Sass mixin and mapping for easy customization, to the introduction of new components, utility classes and more modular architectures.

Combined with excellent documentation and ease of use, Bootstrap remains a strong competitor in the front-end ecosystem.

What do you think? Will your next project be built using Bootstrap or CSS grid?

If you've heard of Bootstrap but have been delaying learning it because it looks too complicated, then learn our Bootstrap 4 introductory course to quickly and easily learn about the power of Bootstrap.

FAQs about CSS grid layout and CSS frameworks

What are the main differences between CSS grid layout and CSS frameworks?

CSS grid layout and CSS frameworks such as Bootstrap are powerful web design tools, but they have different purposes. CSS Grid Layout is a CSS module that allows you to create complex web layouts using rows and columns. It is a native feature of CSS, which means it doesn't require any additional libraries or plugins to work. On the other hand, the CSS framework is a pre-prepared library designed to simplify the process of web design. They come with pre-designed components such as buttons, forms and navigation bars that can be easily customized and reused.

Is CSS grid layout better than CSS frameworks?

Whether the CSS grid layout is "better" than the CSS framework depends on the specific needs of the project. CSS grid layout provides more flexibility and control over web layout, making it an excellent choice for complex grid-based designs. However, CSS frameworks like Bootstrap can save you time and effort by providing pre-designed components and styles. If you are working on a large project or need to start a website quickly, a CSS framework may be a better choice.

CSS grid layout and CSS framework can be used together?

Yes, CSS grid layout and CSS framework can be used together. In fact, many developers use CSS grid layouts to create the overall layout of web pages, and then use the CSS framework to create individual components in these pages. This approach allows you to take advantage of both tools.

What are some alternatives to CSS grid layout and CSS frameworks?

There are many alternatives to CSS grid layout and CSS frameworks. Some popular alternatives to CSS grid layouts include Flexbox and CSS multi-column layouts. These are also native CSS modules that allow the creation of flexible layouts. Some popular alternatives to the CSS framework include Foundation, Bulma, and Tailwind CSS. These are other CSS frameworks that offer different functions and styles.

How to choose between a CSS grid layout and a CSS framework?

When choosing between a CSS grid layout and a CSS framework, consider the needs of the project and your skills and preferences as a developer. If you need a lot of control over the layout and prefer to use CSS, you may prefer CSS grid layout. If you prefer to use pre-designed components and want to quickly launch a website, a CSS framework may be a better option.

Is Bootstrap a CSS framework?

Yes, Bootstrap is a CSS framework. It is one of the most popular CSS frameworks available today, known for its responsive design, pre-designed components and a wide range of documentation.

What are some of the advantages of using CSS grid layout?

CSS grid layout offers some advantages. It allows to create complex layouts with rows and columns, it is a native feature of CSS, meaning it does not require any additional libraries or plugins, and it provides a lot of flexibility and control over web layout.

What are some of the advantages of using CSS frameworks?

CSS framework provides some advantages. They can save you time and effort by providing pre-designed components and styles, they are often well documented and supported by the developer community, and they can help ensure your website is responsive and on all devices. All look great.

How to get started with CSS grid layout?

To get started with CSS grid layout, you need to understand the basics of HTML and CSS. From there, you can learn more about CSS grid layout through online tutorials, documentation, and practices.

How to get started with CSS frameworks?

To get started with the CSS framework, you also need to understand the basics of HTML and CSS. From there, you can choose a CSS framework that suits your needs, download it, and start exploring its documentation and features.

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