Step by step guide to learning CSS in 2026
CSS is the programming language we use to create great-looking websites. It stands for Cascading Style Sheets. CSS is used to describe how HTML (or XML) elements are displayed on the screen. CSS is designed to enable the separation of content and presentation, including layout, colors, and fonts.
Front-end development refers to the process of creating the parts of a website or application that users see and interact with directly. Front-end developers use a combination of programming languages, tools, and technologies to build user interfaces and user experiences, namely HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
HTML is used to structure the content and create the basic building blocks of a webpage.
CSS styles the visual presentation of HTML content, including colours, fonts, layouts, and responsive design for different screen sizes.
JavaScript is used to add interactivity, dynamic behaviour, and client-side functionality to web pages, such as form validation, animations, and real-time updates.
There are three types of CSS styles: internal, external, and inline.
Internal CSS requires you to add the <style> tag to the <head> section of your HTML document. The CSS rules defined within the <style> tag will then be applied to the elements within that specific HTML document.
External CSS allows you to link your web pages to an external .css file, which can be created with any text editor. This type of CSS is a more efficient method, especially for styling a large website. By editing a .css file, you can change your entire site at once.
Inline CSS is used to style a specific HTML element. For this type of CSS styling, you simply add the style attribute to each HTML tag, without using selectors. This type of CSS isn't really recommended, as each HTML tag must be styled individually. Managing your website can be difficult if you only use inline CSS.