CINXE.COM

<!doctype html><html lang="en-US" prefix="og: https://ogp.me/ns#"><head><meta charSet="utf-8"/><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width,initial-scale=1"/><link rel="icon" href="https://developer.mozilla.org/favicon-48x48.bc390275e955dacb2e65.png"/><link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://developer.mozilla.org/apple-touch-icon.528534bba673c38049c2.png"/><meta name="theme-color" content="#ffffff"/><link rel="manifest" href="https://developer.mozilla.org/manifest.f42880861b394dd4dc9b.json"/><link rel="search" type="application/opensearchdescription+xml" href="/opensearch.xml" title="MDN Web Docs"/><title>CSS basics - Learn web development | MDN</title><link rel="alternate" title="CSS-Grundlagen" href="https://developer.mozilla.org/de/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics" hrefLang="de"/><link rel="alternate" title="CSS básico" href="https://developer.mozilla.org/es/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics" hrefLang="es"/><link rel="alternate" title="Les bases des CSS" href="https://developer.mozilla.org/fr/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics" hrefLang="fr"/><link rel="alternate" title="CSS の基本" href="https://developer.mozilla.org/ja/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics" hrefLang="ja"/><link rel="alternate" title="CSS 기초" href="https://developer.mozilla.org/ko/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics" hrefLang="ko"/><link rel="alternate" title="CSS básico" href="https://developer.mozilla.org/pt-BR/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics" hrefLang="pt"/><link rel="alternate" title="Основы CSS" href="https://developer.mozilla.org/ru/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics" hrefLang="ru"/><link rel="alternate" title="CSS 基础" href="https://developer.mozilla.org/zh-CN/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics" hrefLang="zh"/><link rel="alternate" title="CSS 基本" href="https://developer.mozilla.org/zh-TW/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics" hrefLang="zh-Hant"/><link rel="alternate" title="CSS basics" href="https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics" hrefLang="en"/><link rel="preload" as="font" type="font/woff2" href="/static/media/Inter.var.c2fe3cb2b7c746f7966a.woff2" crossorigin=""/><link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="MDN Blog RSS Feed" href="https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/blog/rss.xml" hrefLang="en"/><meta name="description" content="CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is the code that styles web content. CSS basics walks through what you need to get started. We'll answer questions like: How do I make text red? How do I make content display at a certain location in the (webpage) layout? How do I decorate my webpage with background images and colors?"/><meta property="og:url" content="https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics"/><meta property="og:title" content="CSS basics - Learn web development | MDN"/><meta property="og:type" content="website"/><meta property="og:locale" content="en_US"/><meta property="og:description" content="CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is the code that styles web content. CSS basics walks through what you need to get started. We'll answer questions like: How do I make text red? How do I make content display at a certain location in the (webpage) layout? How do I decorate my webpage with background images and colors?"/><meta property="og:image" content="https://developer.mozilla.org/mdn-social-share.d893525a4fb5fb1f67a2.png"/><meta property="og:image:type" content="image/png"/><meta property="og:image:height" content="1080"/><meta property="og:image:width" content="1920"/><meta property="og:image:alt" content="The MDN Web Docs logo, featuring a blue accent color, displayed on a solid black background."/><meta property="og:site_name" content="MDN Web Docs"/><meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/><meta name="twitter:creator" content="MozDevNet"/><link rel="canonical" href="https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics"/><style media="print">.article-actions-container,.document-toc-container,.language-menu,.main-menu-toggle,.on-github,.page-footer,.place,.sidebar,.top-banner,.top-navigation-main,ul.prev-next{display:none!important}.main-page-content,.main-page-content pre{padding:2px}.main-page-content pre{border-left-width:2px}</style><script src="/static/js/gtag.js" defer=""></script><script defer="" src="/static/js/main.5e889624.js"></script><link href="/static/css/main.26c64ea7.css" rel="stylesheet"/></head><body><script>if(document.body.addEventListener("load",(t=>{t.target.classList.contains("interactive")&&t.target.setAttribute("data-readystate","complete")}),{capture:!0}),window&&document.documentElement){const t={light:"#ffffff",dark:"#1b1b1b"};try{const e=window.localStorage.getItem("theme");e&&(document.documentElement.className=e,document.documentElement.style.backgroundColor=t[e]);const o=window.localStorage.getItem("nop");o&&(document.documentElement.dataset.nop=o)}catch(t){console.warn("Unable to read theme from localStorage",t)}}</script><div id="root"><ul id="nav-access" class="a11y-nav"><li><a id="skip-main" href="#content">Skip to main content</a></li><li><a id="skip-search" href="#top-nav-search-input">Skip to search</a></li><li><a id="skip-select-language" href="#languages-switcher-button">Skip to select language</a></li></ul><div class="page-wrapper category-learn document-page"><div class="top-banner loading"><section class="place top container"></section></div><div class="sticky-header-container"><header class="top-navigation "><div class="container "><div class="top-navigation-wrap"><a href="/en-US/" class="logo" aria-label="MDN homepage"><svg id="mdn-docs-logo" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" x="0" y="0" viewBox="0 0 694.9 104.4" style="enable-background:new 0 0 694.9 104.4" xml:space="preserve" role="img"><title>MDN Web Docs</title><path d="M40.3 0 11.7 92.1H0L28.5 0h11.8zm10.4 0v92.1H40.3V0h10.4zM91 0 62.5 92.1H50.8L79.3 0H91zm10.4 0v92.1H91V0h10.4z" class="logo-m"></path><path d="M627.9 95.6h67v8.8h-67v-8.8z" class="logo-_"></path><path d="M367 42h-4l-10.7 30.8h-5.5l-10.8-26h-.4l-10.5 26h-5.2L308.7 42h-3.8v-5.6H323V42h-6.5l6.8 20.4h.4l10.3-26h4.7l11.2 26h.5l5.7-20.3h-6.2v-5.6H367V42zm34.9 20c-.4 3.2-2 5.9-4.7 8.2-2.8 2.3-6.5 3.4-11.3 3.4-5.4 0-9.7-1.6-13.1-4.7-3.3-3.2-5-7.7-5-13.7 0-5.7 1.6-10.3 4.7-14s7.4-5.5 12.9-5.5c5.1 0 9.1 1.6 11.9 4.7s4.3 6.9 4.3 11.3c0 1.5-.2 3-.5 4.7h-25.6c.3 7.7 4 11.6 10.9 11.6 2.9 0 5.1-.7 6.5-2 1.5-1.4 2.5-3 3-4.9l6 .9zM394 51.3c.2-2.4-.4-4.7-1.8-6.9s-3.8-3.3-7-3.3c-3.1 0-5.3 1-6.9 3-1.5 2-2.5 4.4-2.8 7.2H394zm51 2.4c0 5-1.3 9.5-4 13.7s-6.9 6.2-12.7 6.2c-6 0-10.3-2.2-12.7-6.7-.1.4-.2 1.4-.4 2.9s-.3 2.5-.4 2.9h-7.3c.3-1.7.6-3.5.8-5.3.3-1.8.4-3.7.4-5.5V22.3h-6v-5.6H416v27c1.1-2.2 2.7-4.1 4.7-5.7 2-1.6 4.8-2.4 8.4-2.4 4.6 0 8.4 1.6 11.4 4.7 3 3.2 4.5 7.6 4.5 13.4zm-7.7.6c0-4.2-1-7.4-3-9.5-2-2.2-4.4-3.3-7.4-3.3-3.4 0-6 1.2-8 3.7-1.9 2.4-2.9 5-3 7.7V57c0 3 1 5.6 3 7.7s4.5 3.1 7.6 3.1c3.6 0 6.3-1.3 8.1-3.9 1.8-2.7 2.7-5.9 2.7-9.6zm69.2 18.5h-13.2v-7.2c-1.2 2.2-2.8 4.1-4.9 5.6-2.1 1.6-4.8 2.4-8.3 2.4-4.8 0-8.7-1.6-11.6-4.9-2.9-3.2-4.3-7.7-4.3-13.3 0-5 1.3-9.6 4-13.7 2.6-4.1 6.9-6.2 12.8-6.2 5.7 0 9.8 2.2 12.3 6.5V22.3h-8.6v-5.6h15.8v50.6h6v5.5zM493.2 56v-4.4c-.1-3-1.2-5.5-3.2-7.3s-4.4-2.8-7.2-2.8c-3.6 0-6.3 1.3-8.2 3.9-1.9 2.6-2.8 5.8-2.8 9.6 0 4.1 1 7.3 3 9.5s4.5 3.3 7.4 3.3c3.2 0 5.8-1.3 7.8-3.8 2.1-2.6 3.1-5.3 3.2-8zm53.1-1.4c0 5.6-1.8 10.2-5.3 13.7s-8.2 5.3-13.9 5.3-10.1-1.7-13.4-5.1c-3.3-3.4-5-7.9-5-13.5 0-5.3 1.6-9.9 4.7-13.7 3.2-3.8 7.9-5.7 14.2-5.7s11 1.9 14.1 5.7c3 3.7 4.6 8.1 4.6 13.3zm-7.7-.2c0-4-1-7.2-3-9.5s-4.8-3.5-8.2-3.5c-3.6 0-6.4 1.2-8.3 3.7s-2.9 5.6-2.9 9.5c0 3.7.9 6.8 2.8 9.4 1.9 2.6 4.6 3.9 8.3 3.9 3.6 0 6.4-1.3 8.4-3.8 1.9-2.6 2.9-5.8 2.9-9.7zm45 5.8c-.4 3.2-1.9 6.3-4.4 9.1-2.5 2.9-6.4 4.3-11.8 4.3-5.2 0-9.4-1.6-12.6-4.8-3.2-3.2-4.8-7.7-4.8-13.7 0-5.5 1.6-10.1 4.7-13.9 3.2-3.8 7.6-5.7 13.2-5.7 2.3 0 4.6.3 6.7.8 2.2.5 4.2 1.5 6.2 2.9l1.5 9.5-5.9.7-1.3-6.1c-2.1-1.2-4.5-1.8-7.2-1.8-3.5 0-6.1 1.2-7.7 3.7-1.7 2.5-2.5 5.7-2.5 9.6 0 4.1.9 7.3 2.7 9.5 1.8 2.3 4.4 3.4 7.8 3.4 5.2 0 8.2-2.9 9.2-8.8l6.2 1.3zm34.7 1.9c0 3.6-1.5 6.5-4.6 8.5s-7 3-11.7 3c-5.7 0-10.6-1.2-14.6-3.6l1.2-8.8 5.7.6-.2 4.7c1.1.5 2.3.9 3.6 1.1s2.6.3 3.9.3c2.4 0 4.5-.4 6.5-1.3 1.9-.9 2.9-2.2 2.9-4.1 0-1.8-.8-3.1-2.3-3.8s-3.5-1.3-5.8-1.7-4.6-.9-6.9-1.4c-2.3-.6-4.2-1.6-5.7-2.9-1.6-1.4-2.3-3.5-2.3-6.3 0-4.1 1.5-6.9 4.6-8.5s6.4-2.4 9.9-2.4c2.6 0 5 .3 7.2.9 2.2.6 4.3 1.4 6.1 2.4l.8 8.8-5.8.7-.8-5.7c-2.3-1-4.7-1.6-7.2-1.6-2.1 0-3.7.4-5.1 1.1-1.3.8-2 2-2 3.8 0 1.7.8 2.9 2.3 3.6 1.5.7 3.4 1.2 5.7 1.6 2.2.4 4.5.8 6.7 1.4 2.2.6 4.1 1.6 5.7 3 1.4 1.6 2.2 3.7 2.2 6.6zM197.6 73.2h-17.1v-5.5h3.8V51.9c0-3.7-.7-6.3-2.1-7.9-1.4-1.6-3.3-2.3-5.7-2.3-3.2 0-5.6 1.1-7.2 3.4s-2.4 4.6-2.5 6.9v15.6h6v5.5h-17.1v-5.5h3.8V51.9c0-3.8-.7-6.4-2.1-7.9-1.4-1.5-3.3-2.3-5.6-2.3-3.2 0-5.5 1.1-7.2 3.3-1.6 2.2-2.4 4.5-2.5 6.9v15.8h6.9v5.5h-20.2v-5.5h6V42.4h-6.1v-5.6h13.4v6.4c1.2-2.1 2.7-3.8 4.7-5.2 2-1.3 4.4-2 7.3-2s5.3.7 7.5 2.1c2.2 1.4 3.7 3.5 4.5 6.4 1.1-2.5 2.7-4.5 4.9-6.1s4.8-2.4 7.9-2.4c3.5 0 6.5 1.1 8.9 3.3s3.7 5.6 3.7 10.2v18.2h6.1v5.5zm42.5 0h-13.2V66c-1.2 2.2-2.8 4.1-4.9 5.6-2.1 1.6-4.8 2.4-8.3 2.4-4.8 0-8.7-1.6-11.6-4.9-2.9-3.2-4.3-7.7-4.3-13.3 0-5 1.3-9.6 4-13.7 2.6-4.1 6.9-6.2 12.8-6.2s9.8 2.2 12.3 6.5V22.7h-8.6v-5.6h15.8v50.6h6v5.5zm-13.3-16.8V52c-.1-3-1.2-5.5-3.2-7.3s-4.4-2.8-7.2-2.8c-3.6 0-6.3 1.3-8.2 3.9-1.9 2.6-2.8 5.8-2.8 9.6 0 4.1 1 7.3 3 9.5s4.5 3.3 7.4 3.3c3.2 0 5.8-1.3 7.8-3.8 2.1-2.6 3.1-5.3 3.2-8zm61.5 16.8H269v-5.5h6V51.9c0-3.7-.7-6.3-2.2-7.9-1.4-1.6-3.4-2.3-5.7-2.3-3.1 0-5.6 1-7.4 3s-2.8 4.4-2.9 7v15.9h6v5.5h-19.3v-5.5h6V42.4h-6.2v-5.6h13.6V43c2.6-4.6 6.8-6.9 12.7-6.9 3.6 0 6.7 1.1 9.2 3.3s3.7 5.6 3.7 10.2v18.2h6v5.4h-.2z" class="logo-text"></path></svg></a><button title="Open main menu" type="button" class="button action has-icon main-menu-toggle" aria-haspopup="menu" aria-label="Open main menu" aria-expanded="false"><span class="button-wrap"><span class="icon icon-menu "></span><span class="visually-hidden">Open main menu</span></span></button></div><div class="top-navigation-main"><nav class="main-nav" aria-label="Main menu"><ul class="main-menu nojs"><li class="top-level-entry-container "><button type="button" id="references-button" class="top-level-entry menu-toggle" aria-controls="references-menu" aria-expanded="false">References</button><a href="/en-US/docs/Web" class="top-level-entry">References</a><ul id="references-menu" class="submenu references hidden inline-submenu-lg" aria-labelledby="references-button"><li class="apis-link-container mobile-only "><a href="/en-US/docs/Web" class="submenu-item "><div class="submenu-icon"></div><div class="submenu-content-container"><div class="submenu-item-heading">Overview / Web Technology</div><p class="submenu-item-description">Web technology reference for developers</p></div></a></li><li class="html-link-container "><a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML" class="submenu-item "><div class="submenu-icon html"></div><div class="submenu-content-container"><div class="submenu-item-heading">HTML</div><p class="submenu-item-description">Structure of content on the web</p></div></a></li><li class="css-link-container "><a href="/en-US/docs/Web/CSS" class="submenu-item "><div class="submenu-icon css"></div><div class="submenu-content-container"><div class="submenu-item-heading">CSS</div><p class="submenu-item-description">Code used to describe document style</p></div></a></li><li class="javascript-link-container "><a href="/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript" class="submenu-item "><div class="submenu-icon javascript"></div><div class="submenu-content-container"><div class="submenu-item-heading">JavaScript</div><p class="submenu-item-description">General-purpose scripting language</p></div></a></li><li class="http-link-container "><a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP" class="submenu-item "><div class="submenu-icon http"></div><div class="submenu-content-container"><div class="submenu-item-heading">HTTP</div><p class="submenu-item-description">Protocol for transmitting web resources</p></div></a></li><li class="apis-link-container "><a href="/en-US/docs/Web/API" class="submenu-item "><div class="submenu-icon apis"></div><div class="submenu-content-container"><div class="submenu-item-heading">Web APIs</div><p class="submenu-item-description">Interfaces for building web applications</p></div></a></li><li class="apis-link-container "><a href="/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions" class="submenu-item "><div class="submenu-icon"></div><div class="submenu-content-container"><div class="submenu-item-heading">Web Extensions</div><p class="submenu-item-description">Developing extensions for web browsers</p></div></a></li><li class="apis-link-container desktop-only "><a href="/en-US/docs/Web" class="submenu-item "><div class="submenu-icon"></div><div class="submenu-content-container"><div class="submenu-item-heading">Web Technology</div><p class="submenu-item-description">Web technology reference for developers</p></div></a></li></ul></li><li class="top-level-entry-container active"><button type="button" id="guides-button" class="top-level-entry menu-toggle" aria-controls="guides-menu" aria-expanded="false">Guides</button><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn" class="top-level-entry">Guides</a><ul id="guides-menu" class="submenu guides hidden inline-submenu-lg" aria-labelledby="guides-button"><li class="apis-link-container mobile-only "><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn" class="submenu-item "><div class="submenu-icon learn"></div><div class="submenu-content-container"><div class="submenu-item-heading">Overview / MDN Learning Area</div><p class="submenu-item-description">Learn web development</p></div></a></li><li class="apis-link-container desktop-only "><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn" class="submenu-item "><div class="submenu-icon learn"></div><div class="submenu-content-container"><div class="submenu-item-heading">MDN Learning Area</div><p class="submenu-item-description">Learn web development</p></div></a></li><li class="html-link-container "><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML" class="submenu-item "><div class="submenu-icon html"></div><div class="submenu-content-container"><div class="submenu-item-heading">HTML</div><p class="submenu-item-description">Learn to structure web content with HTML</p></div></a></li><li class="css-link-container "><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS" class="submenu-item "><div class="submenu-icon css"></div><div class="submenu-content-container"><div class="submenu-item-heading">CSS</div><p class="submenu-item-description">Learn to style content using CSS</p></div></a></li><li class="javascript-link-container "><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript" class="submenu-item "><div class="submenu-icon javascript"></div><div class="submenu-content-container"><div class="submenu-item-heading">JavaScript</div><p class="submenu-item-description">Learn to run scripts in the browser</p></div></a></li><li class=" "><a href="/en-US/docs/Web/Accessibility" class="submenu-item "><div class="submenu-icon"></div><div class="submenu-content-container"><div class="submenu-item-heading">Accessibility</div><p class="submenu-item-description">Learn to make the web accessible to all</p></div></a></li></ul></li><li class="top-level-entry-container "><button type="button" id="mdn-plus-button" class="top-level-entry menu-toggle" aria-controls="mdn-plus-menu" aria-expanded="false">Plus</button><a href="/en-US/plus" class="top-level-entry">Plus</a><ul id="mdn-plus-menu" class="submenu mdn-plus hidden inline-submenu-lg" aria-labelledby="mdn-plus-button"><li class=" "><a href="/en-US/plus" class="submenu-item "><div class="submenu-icon"></div><div class="submenu-content-container"><div class="submenu-item-heading">Overview</div><p class="submenu-item-description">A customized MDN experience</p></div></a></li><li class=" "><a href="/en-US/plus/ai-help" class="submenu-item "><div class="submenu-icon"></div><div class="submenu-content-container"><div class="submenu-item-heading">AI Help</div><p class="submenu-item-description">Get real-time assistance and support</p></div></a></li><li class=" "><a href="/en-US/plus/updates" class="submenu-item "><div class="submenu-icon"></div><div class="submenu-content-container"><div class="submenu-item-heading">Updates</div><p class="submenu-item-description">All browser compatibility updates at a glance</p></div></a></li><li class=" "><a href="/en-US/plus/docs/features/overview" class="submenu-item "><div class="submenu-icon"></div><div class="submenu-content-container"><div class="submenu-item-heading">Documentation</div><p class="submenu-item-description">Learn how to use MDN Plus</p></div></a></li><li class=" "><a href="/en-US/plus/docs/faq" class="submenu-item "><div class="submenu-icon"></div><div class="submenu-content-container"><div class="submenu-item-heading">FAQ</div><p class="submenu-item-description">Frequently asked questions about MDN Plus</p></div></a></li></ul></li><li class="top-level-entry-container "><a class="top-level-entry menu-link" href="/en-US/curriculum/">Curriculum <sup class="new">New</sup></a></li><li class="top-level-entry-container "><a class="top-level-entry menu-link" href="/en-US/blog/">Blog</a></li><li class="top-level-entry-container "><button type="button" id="tools-button" class="top-level-entry menu-toggle" aria-controls="tools-menu" aria-expanded="false">Tools</button><ul id="tools-menu" class="submenu tools hidden inline-submenu-lg" aria-labelledby="tools-button"><li class=" "><a href="/en-US/play" class="submenu-item "><div class="submenu-icon"></div><div class="submenu-content-container"><div class="submenu-item-heading">Playground</div><p class="submenu-item-description">Write, test and share your code</p></div></a></li><li class=" "><a href="/en-US/observatory" class="submenu-item "><div class="submenu-icon"></div><div class="submenu-content-container"><div class="submenu-item-heading">HTTP Observatory</div><p class="submenu-item-description">Scan a website for free</p></div></a></li><li class=" "><a href="/en-US/plus/ai-help" class="submenu-item "><div class="submenu-icon"></div><div class="submenu-content-container"><div class="submenu-item-heading">AI Help</div><p class="submenu-item-description">Get real-time assistance and support</p></div></a></li></ul></li></ul></nav><div class="header-search"><form action="/en-US/search" class="search-form search-widget" id="top-nav-search-form" role="search"><label id="top-nav-search-label" for="top-nav-search-input" class="visually-hidden">Search MDN</label><input aria-activedescendant="" aria-autocomplete="list" aria-controls="top-nav-search-menu" aria-expanded="false" aria-labelledby="top-nav-search-label" autoComplete="off" id="top-nav-search-input" role="combobox" type="search" class="search-input-field" name="q" placeholder=" " required="" value=""/><button type="button" class="button action has-icon clear-search-button"><span class="button-wrap"><span class="icon icon-cancel "></span><span class="visually-hidden">Clear search input</span></span></button><button type="submit" class="button action has-icon search-button"><span class="button-wrap"><span class="icon icon-search "></span><span class="visually-hidden">Search</span></span></button><div id="top-nav-search-menu" role="listbox" aria-labelledby="top-nav-search-label"></div></form></div><div class="theme-switcher-menu"><button type="button" class="button action has-icon theme-switcher-menu small" aria-haspopup="menu"><span class="button-wrap"><span class="icon icon-theme-os-default "></span>Theme</span></button></div><ul class="auth-container"><li><a href="/users/fxa/login/authenticate/?next=%2Fen-US%2Fdocs%2FLearn%2FGetting_started_with_the_web%2FCSS_basics" class="login-link" rel="nofollow">Log in</a></li><li><a href="/users/fxa/login/authenticate/?next=%2Fen-US%2Fdocs%2FLearn%2FGetting_started_with_the_web%2FCSS_basics" target="_self" rel="nofollow" class="button primary mdn-plus-subscribe-link"><span class="button-wrap">Sign up for free</span></a></li></ul></div></div></header><div class="article-actions-container"><div class="container"><button type="button" class="button action has-icon sidebar-button" aria-label="Expand sidebar" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="sidebar-quicklinks"><span class="button-wrap"><span class="icon icon-sidebar "></span></span></button><nav class="breadcrumbs-container" aria-label="Breadcrumb"><ol typeof="BreadcrumbList" vocab="https://schema.org/" aria-label="breadcrumbs"><li property="itemListElement" typeof="ListItem"><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn" class="breadcrumb" property="item" typeof="WebPage"><span property="name">Guides</span></a><meta property="position" content="1"/></li><li property="itemListElement" typeof="ListItem"><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web" class="breadcrumb" property="item" typeof="WebPage"><span property="name">Getting started with the web</span></a><meta property="position" content="2"/></li><li property="itemListElement" typeof="ListItem"><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics" class="breadcrumb-current-page" property="item" typeof="WebPage"><span property="name">CSS basics</span></a><meta property="position" content="3"/></li></ol></nav><div class="article-actions"><button type="button" class="button action has-icon article-actions-toggle" aria-label="Article actions"><span class="button-wrap"><span class="icon icon-ellipses "></span><span class="article-actions-dialog-heading">Article Actions</span></span></button><ul class="article-actions-entries"><li class="article-actions-entry"><div class="languages-switcher-menu open-on-focus-within"><button id="languages-switcher-button" type="button" class="button action small has-icon languages-switcher-menu" aria-haspopup="menu"><span class="button-wrap"><span class="icon icon-language "></span>English (US)</span></button><div class="hidden"><ul class="submenu language-menu " aria-labelledby="language-menu-button"><li class=" "><form class="submenu-item locale-redirect-setting"><div class="group"><label class="switch"><input type="checkbox" name="locale-redirect"/><span class="slider"></span><span class="label">Remember language</span></label><a href="https://github.com/orgs/mdn/discussions/739" rel="external noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Enable this setting to automatically switch to this language when it's available. (Click to learn more.)"><span class="icon icon-question-mark "></span></a></div></form></li><li class=" "><a data-locale="de" href="/de/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics" class="button submenu-item"><span>Deutsch</span><span title="Diese Übersetzung ist Teil eines Experiments."><span class="icon icon-experimental "></span></span></a></li><li class=" "><a data-locale="es" href="/es/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics" class="button submenu-item"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class=" "><a data-locale="fr" href="/fr/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics" class="button submenu-item"><span>Français</span></a></li><li class=" "><a data-locale="ja" href="/ja/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics" class="button submenu-item"><span>日本語</span></a></li><li class=" "><a data-locale="ko" href="/ko/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics" class="button submenu-item"><span>한국어</span></a></li><li class=" "><a data-locale="pt-BR" href="/pt-BR/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics" class="button submenu-item"><span>Português (do Brasil)</span></a></li><li class=" "><a data-locale="ru" href="/ru/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics" class="button submenu-item"><span>Русский</span></a></li><li class=" "><a data-locale="zh-CN" href="/zh-CN/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics" class="button submenu-item"><span>中文 (简体)</span></a></li><li class=" "><a data-locale="zh-TW" href="/zh-TW/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics" class="button submenu-item"><span>正體中文 (繁體)</span></a></li></ul></div></div></li></ul></div></div></div></div><div class="main-wrapper"><div class="sidebar-container"><aside id="sidebar-quicklinks" class="sidebar" data-macro="LearnSidebar"><button type="button" class="button action backdrop" aria-label="Collapse sidebar"><span class="button-wrap"></span></button><nav aria-label="Related Topics" class="sidebar-inner"><header class="sidebar-actions"><section class="sidebar-filter-container"><div class="sidebar-filter "><label id="sidebar-filter-label" class="sidebar-filter-label" for="sidebar-filter-input"><span class="icon icon-filter"></span><span class="visually-hidden">Filter sidebar</span></label><input id="sidebar-filter-input" autoComplete="off" class="sidebar-filter-input-field false" type="text" placeholder="Filter" value=""/><button type="button" class="button action has-icon clear-sidebar-filter-button"><span class="button-wrap"><span class="icon icon-cancel "></span><span class="visually-hidden">Clear filter input</span></span></button></div></section></header><div class="sidebar-inner-nav"><div class="in-nav-toc"><div class="document-toc-container"><section class="document-toc"><header><h2 class="document-toc-heading">In this article</h2></header><ul class="document-toc-list"><li class="document-toc-item "><a class="document-toc-link" href="#what_is_css">What is CSS?</a></li><li class="document-toc-item "><a class="document-toc-link" href="#fonts_and_text">Fonts and text</a></li><li class="document-toc-item "><a class="document-toc-link" href="#css_all_about_boxes">CSS: all about boxes</a></li><li class="document-toc-item "><a class="document-toc-link" href="#conclusion">Conclusion</a></li></ul></section></div></div><div class="sidebar-body"><ol><li class="section"><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web">Complete beginners start here!</a></li><li><details open=""><summary>Getting started with the web</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web">Getting started with the web</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/Installing_basic_software">Installing basic software</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/What_will_your_website_look_like">What will your website look like?</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/Dealing_with_files">Dealing with files</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/HTML_basics">HTML basics</a></li><li><em><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics" aria-current="page">CSS basics</a></em></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/JavaScript_basics">JavaScript basics</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/Publishing_your_website">Publishing your website</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/How_the_Web_works">How the web works</a></li></ol></details></li><li class="section"><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML">HTML — Structuring the web</a></li><li><details><summary>Introduction to HTML</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Introduction_to_HTML">Introduction to HTML</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Introduction_to_HTML/Getting_started">Getting started with HTML</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Introduction_to_HTML/The_head_metadata_in_HTML">What's in the head? Metadata in HTML</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Introduction_to_HTML/HTML_text_fundamentals">HTML text fundamentals</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Introduction_to_HTML/Creating_hyperlinks">Creating hyperlinks</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Introduction_to_HTML/Advanced_text_formatting">Advanced text formatting</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Introduction_to_HTML/Document_and_website_structure">Document and website structure</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Introduction_to_HTML/Debugging_HTML">Debugging HTML</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Introduction_to_HTML/Marking_up_a_letter">Marking up a letter</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Introduction_to_HTML/Structuring_a_page_of_content">Structuring a page of content</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Multimedia and embedding</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Multimedia_and_embedding">Multimedia and embedding</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Multimedia_and_embedding/Images_in_HTML">Images in HTML</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Multimedia_and_embedding/Video_and_audio_content">Video and audio content</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Multimedia_and_embedding/Other_embedding_technologies">From object to iframe — other embedding technologies</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Multimedia_and_embedding/Adding_vector_graphics_to_the_Web">Adding vector graphics to the web</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Multimedia_and_embedding/Responsive_images">Responsive images</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Multimedia_and_embedding/Mozilla_splash_page">Mozilla splash page</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>HTML tables</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Tables">HTML tables</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Tables/Basics">HTML table basics</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Tables/Advanced">HTML table advanced features and accessibility</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Tables/Structuring_planet_data">Structuring planet data</a></li></ol></details></li><li class="section"><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS">CSS — Styling the web</a></li><li><details><summary>CSS first steps</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/First_steps">CSS first steps</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/First_steps/What_is_CSS">What is CSS?</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/First_steps/Getting_started">Getting started with CSS</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/First_steps/How_CSS_is_structured">How CSS is structured</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/First_steps/How_CSS_works">How CSS works</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/First_steps/Styling_a_biography_page">Styling a biography page</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>CSS building blocks</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks">CSS building blocks</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Selectors">CSS selectors</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Selectors/Type_Class_and_ID_Selectors">Type, class, and ID selectors</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Selectors/Attribute_selectors">Attribute selectors</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Selectors/Pseudo-classes_and_pseudo-elements">Pseudo-classes and pseudo-elements</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Selectors/Combinators">Combinators</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Cascade_and_inheritance">Cascade, specificity, and inheritance</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Cascade_layers">Cascade layers</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/The_box_model">The box model</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Backgrounds_and_borders">Backgrounds and borders</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Handling_different_text_directions">Handling different text directions</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Overflowing_content">Overflowing content</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Values_and_units">CSS values and units</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Sizing_items_in_CSS">Sizing items in CSS</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Images_media_form_elements">Images, media, and form elements</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Styling_tables">Styling tables</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Advanced_styling_effects">Advanced styling effects</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Debugging_CSS">Debugging CSS</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Organizing">Organizing your CSS</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Fundamental_CSS_comprehension">Fundamental CSS comprehension</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Creating_fancy_letterheaded_paper">Creating fancy letterheaded paper</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/A_cool_looking_box">A cool-looking box</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Styling text</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Styling_text">CSS styling text</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Styling_text/Fundamentals">Fundamental text and font styling</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Styling_text/Styling_lists">Styling lists</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Styling_text/Styling_links">Styling links</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Styling_text/Web_fonts">Web fonts</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Styling_text/Typesetting_a_homepage">Typesetting a community school homepage</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>CSS layout</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout">CSS layout</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Introduction">Introduction to CSS layout</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Normal_Flow">Normal Flow</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Flexbox">Flexbox</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Grids">Grids</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Floats">Floats</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Positioning">Positioning</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Multiple-column_Layout">Multiple-column layout</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Responsive_Design">Responsive design</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Media_queries">Beginner's guide to media queries</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Legacy_Layout_Methods">Legacy layout methods</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Supporting_Older_Browsers">Supporting older browsers</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Fundamental_Layout_Comprehension">Fundamental layout comprehension</a></li></ol></details></li><li class="section"><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript">JavaScript — Dynamic client-side scripting</a></li><li><details><summary>JavaScript first steps</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps">JavaScript first steps</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/What_is_JavaScript">What is JavaScript?</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/A_first_splash">A first splash into JavaScript</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/What_went_wrong">What went wrong? Troubleshooting JavaScript</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/Variables">Storing the information you need — Variables</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/Math">Basic math in JavaScript — numbers and operators</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/Strings">Handling text — strings in JavaScript</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/Useful_string_methods">Useful string methods</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/Arrays">Arrays</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/Silly_story_generator">Silly story generator</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>JavaScript building blocks</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Building_blocks">JavaScript building blocks</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Building_blocks/conditionals">Making decisions in your code — conditionals</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Building_blocks/Looping_code">Looping code</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Building_blocks/Functions">Functions — reusable blocks of code</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Building_blocks/Build_your_own_function">Build your own function</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Building_blocks/Return_values">Function return values</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Building_blocks/Events">Introduction to events</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Building_blocks/Event_bubbling">Event bubbling</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Building_blocks/Image_gallery">Image gallery</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Introducing JavaScript objects</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Objects">Introducing JavaScript objects</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Objects/Basics">JavaScript object basics</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Objects/Object_prototypes">Object prototypes</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Objects/Object-oriented_programming">Object-oriented programming</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Objects/Classes_in_JavaScript">Classes in JavaScript</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Objects/JSON">Working with JSON</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Objects/Object_building_practice">Object building practice</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Objects/Adding_bouncing_balls_features">Adding features to our bouncing balls demo</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Asynchronous JavaScript</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Asynchronous">Asynchronous JavaScript</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Asynchronous/Introducing">Introducing asynchronous JavaScript</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Asynchronous/Promises">How to use promises</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Asynchronous/Implementing_a_promise-based_API">How to implement a promise-based API</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Asynchronous/Introducing_workers">Introducing workers</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Asynchronous/Sequencing_animations">Sequencing animations</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Client-side web APIs</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Client-side_web_APIs">Client-side web APIs</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Client-side_web_APIs/Introduction">Introduction to web APIs</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Client-side_web_APIs/Manipulating_documents">Manipulating documents</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Client-side_web_APIs/Fetching_data">Fetching data from the server</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Client-side_web_APIs/Third_party_APIs">Third-party APIs</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Client-side_web_APIs/Drawing_graphics">Drawing graphics</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Client-side_web_APIs/Video_and_audio_APIs">Video and Audio APIs</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Client-side_web_APIs/Client-side_storage">Client-side storage</a></li></ol></details></li><li class="section"><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms">Web forms — Working with user data</a></li><li><details><summary>Web form building blocks</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms">Web form building blocks</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/Your_first_form">Your first form</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/How_to_structure_a_web_form">How to structure a web form</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/Basic_native_form_controls">Basic native form controls</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/HTML5_input_types">The HTML5 input types</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/Other_form_controls">Other form controls</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/Styling_web_forms">Styling web forms</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/Advanced_form_styling">Advanced form styling</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/UI_pseudo-classes">UI pseudo-classes</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/Form_validation">Client-side form validation</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/Sending_and_retrieving_form_data">Sending form data</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Advanced web form techniques</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/How_to_build_custom_form_controls">How to build custom form controls</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/Sending_forms_through_JavaScript">Sending forms through JavaScript</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/Property_compatibility_table_for_form_controls">CSS property compatibility table for form controls</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/HTML_forms_in_legacy_browsers">HTML forms in legacy browsers</a></li></ol></details></li><li class="section"><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Accessibility">Accessibility — Make the web usable by everyone</a></li><li><details><summary>Accessibility guides</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Accessibility">Accessibility</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Accessibility/What_is_accessibility">What is accessibility?</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Accessibility/HTML">HTML: A good basis for accessibility</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Accessibility/CSS_and_JavaScript">CSS and JavaScript accessibility best practices</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Accessibility/WAI-ARIA_basics">WAI-ARIA basics</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Accessibility/Multimedia">Accessible multimedia</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Accessibility/Mobile">Mobile accessibility</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Accessibility/Accessibility_troubleshooting">Assessment: Accessibility troubleshooting</a></li></ol></details></li><li class="section"><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance">Performance — Making websites fast and responsive</a></li><li><details><summary>Performance guides</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance">Web performance</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/why_web_performance">The "why" of web performance</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/What_is_web_performance">What is web performance?</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/Perceived_performance">Perceived performance</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/Measuring_performance">Measuring performance</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/Multimedia">Multimedia: Images</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/video">Multimedia: video</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/JavaScript">JavaScript performance optimization</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/HTML">HTML performance optimization</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/CSS">CSS performance optimization</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/business_case_for_performance">The business case for web performance</a></li></ol></details></li><li class="section"><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/MathML">MathML — Writing mathematics with MathML</a></li><li><details><summary>MathML first steps</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/MathML/First_steps">MathML first steps</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/MathML/First_steps/Getting_started">Getting started with MathML</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/MathML/First_steps/Text_containers">MathML Text Containers</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/MathML/First_steps/Fractions_and_roots">MathML fractions and roots</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/MathML/First_steps/Scripts">MathML scripted elements</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/MathML/First_steps/Tables">MathML tables</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/MathML/First_steps/Three_famous_mathematical_formulas">Three famous mathematical formulas</a></li></ol></details></li><li class="section"><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/../Games">Games — Developing games for the web</a></li><li><details><summary>Guides and tutorials</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Games/Introduction">Introduction to game development for the Web</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Games/Techniques">Techniques for game development</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Games/Tutorials">Tutorials</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Games/Publishing_games">Publishing games</a></li></ol></details></li><li class="section"><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing">Tools and testing</a></li><li><details><summary>Client-side web development tools</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Understanding_client-side_tools">Understanding client-side web development tools</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Understanding_client-side_tools/Overview">Client-side tooling overview</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Understanding_client-side_tools/Command_line">Command line crash course</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Understanding_client-side_tools/Package_management">Package management basics</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Understanding_client-side_tools/Introducing_complete_toolchain">Introducing a complete toolchain</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Understanding_client-side_tools/Deployment">Deploying our app</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Introduction to client-side frameworks</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Introduction">Introduction to client-side frameworks</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Main_features">Framework main features</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>React</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/React_getting_started">Getting started with React</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/React_todo_list_beginning">Beginning our React todo list</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/React_components">Componentizing our React app</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/React_interactivity_events_state">React interactivity: Events and state</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/React_interactivity_filtering_conditional_rendering">React interactivity: Editing, filtering, conditional rendering</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/React_accessibility">Accessibility in React</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/React_resources">React resources</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Ember</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Ember_getting_started">Getting started with Ember</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Ember_structure_componentization">Ember app structure and componentization</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Ember_interactivity_events_state">Ember interactivity: Events, classes and state</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Ember_conditional_footer">Ember Interactivity: Footer functionality, conditional rendering</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Ember_routing">Routing in Ember</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Ember_resources">Ember resources and troubleshooting</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Vue</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Vue_getting_started">Getting started with Vue</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Vue_first_component">Creating our first Vue component</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Vue_rendering_lists">Rendering a list of Vue components</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Vue_methods_events_models">Adding a new todo form: Vue events, methods, and models</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Vue_styling">Styling Vue components with CSS</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Vue_computed_properties">Using Vue computed properties</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Vue_conditional_rendering">Vue conditional rendering: editing existing todos</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Vue_refs_focus_management">Vue refs and lifecycle methods for focus management</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Vue_resources">Vue resources</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Svelte</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Svelte_getting_started">Getting started with Svelte</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Svelte_Todo_list_beginning">Starting our Svelte to-do list app</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Svelte_variables_props">Dynamic behavior in Svelte: working with variables and props</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Svelte_components">Componentizing our Svelte app</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Svelte_reactivity_lifecycle_accessibility">Advanced Svelte: Reactivity, lifecycle, accessibility</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Svelte_stores">Working with Svelte stores</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Svelte_TypeScript">TypeScript support in Svelte</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Svelte_deployment_next">Deployment and next steps</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Angular</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Angular_getting_started">Getting started with Angular</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Angular_todo_list_beginning">Beginning our Angular todo list app</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Angular_styling">Styling our Angular app</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Angular_item_component">Creating an item component</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Angular_filtering">Filtering our to-do items</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Angular_building">Building Angular applications and further resources</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Git and GitHub</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/GitHub">Git and GitHub</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Cross browser testing</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Cross_browser_testing">Cross browser testing</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Cross_browser_testing/Introduction">Introduction to cross-browser testing</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Cross_browser_testing/Testing_strategies">Strategies for carrying out testing</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Cross_browser_testing/HTML_and_CSS">Handling common HTML and CSS problems</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Cross_browser_testing/JavaScript">Handling common JavaScript problems</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Cross_browser_testing/Accessibility">Handling common accessibility problems</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Cross_browser_testing/Feature_detection">Implementing feature detection</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Cross_browser_testing/Automated_testing">Introduction to automated testing</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Cross_browser_testing/Your_own_automation_environment">Setting up your own test automation environment</a></li></ol></details></li><li class="section"><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side">Server-side website programming</a></li><li><details><summary>First steps</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/First_steps">Server-side website programming first steps</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/First_steps/Introduction">Introduction to the server side</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/First_steps/Client-Server_overview">Client-Server Overview</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/First_steps/Web_frameworks">Server-side web frameworks</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/First_steps/Website_security">Website security</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Django web framework (Python)</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django">Django Web Framework (Python)</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Introduction">Django introduction</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/development_environment">Setting up a Django development environment</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Tutorial_local_library_website">Django Tutorial: The Local Library website</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/skeleton_website">Django Tutorial Part 2: Creating a skeleton website</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Models">Django Tutorial Part 3: Using models</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Admin_site">Django Tutorial Part 4: Django admin site</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Home_page">Django Tutorial Part 5: Creating our home page</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Generic_views">Django Tutorial Part 6: Generic list and detail views</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Sessions">Django Tutorial Part 7: Sessions framework</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Authentication">Django Tutorial Part 8: User authentication and permissions</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Forms">Django Tutorial Part 9: Working with forms</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Testing">Django Tutorial Part 10: Testing a Django web application</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Deployment">Django Tutorial Part 11: Deploying Django to production</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/web_application_security">Django web application security</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/django_assessment_blog">Assessment: DIY Django mini blog</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Express Web Framework (Node.js/JavaScript)</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs">Express web framework (Node.js/JavaScript)</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs/Introduction">Express/Node introduction</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs/development_environment">Setting up a Node development environment</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs/Tutorial_local_library_website">Express Tutorial: The Local Library website</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs/skeleton_website">Express Tutorial Part 2: Creating a skeleton website</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs/mongoose">Express Tutorial Part 3: Using a Database (with Mongoose)</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs/routes">Express Tutorial Part 4: Routes and controllers</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs/Displaying_data">Express Tutorial Part 5: Displaying library data</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs/forms">Express Tutorial Part 6: Working with forms</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs/deployment">Express Tutorial Part 7: Deploying to production</a></li></ol></details></li><li class="section"><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Common_questions">Further resources</a></li><li><details><summary>Common questions</summary><ol><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Common_questions">Common questions</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Howto">Use HTML to solve common problems</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Howto">Use CSS to solve common problems</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Howto">Solve common problems in your JavaScript code</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Common_questions/Web_mechanics">Web mechanics</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Common_questions/Tools_and_setup">Tools and setup</a></li><li><a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Common_questions/Design_and_accessibility">Design and accessibility</a></li></ol></details></li></ol></div></div><section class="place side"></section></nav></aside><div class="toc-container"><aside class="toc"><nav><div class="document-toc-container"><section class="document-toc"><header><h2 class="document-toc-heading">In this article</h2></header><ul class="document-toc-list"><li class="document-toc-item "><a class="document-toc-link" href="#what_is_css">What is CSS?</a></li><li class="document-toc-item "><a class="document-toc-link" href="#fonts_and_text">Fonts and text</a></li><li class="document-toc-item "><a class="document-toc-link" href="#css_all_about_boxes">CSS: all about boxes</a></li><li class="document-toc-item "><a class="document-toc-link" href="#conclusion">Conclusion</a></li></ul></section></div></nav></aside><section class="place side"></section></div></div><main id="content" class="main-content "><article class="main-page-content" lang="en-US"><header><h1>CSS basics</h1></header><div class="section-content"><ul class="prev-next"> <li><a class="button secondary" href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/HTML_basics"><span class="button-wrap"> Previous </span></a></li> <li><a class="button secondary" href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web"><span class="button-wrap"> Overview: Getting started with the web</span></a></li> <li><a class="button secondary" href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/JavaScript_basics"><span class="button-wrap"> Next </span></a></li> </ul> <p>CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is the code that styles web content. <em>CSS basics</em> walks through what you need to get started. We'll answer questions like: How do I make text red? How do I make content display at a certain location in the (webpage) layout? How do I decorate my webpage with background images and colors?</p></div><section aria-labelledby="what_is_css"><h2 id="what_is_css"><a href="#what_is_css">What is CSS?</a></h2><div class="section-content"><p>Like HTML, CSS is not a programming language. It's not a markup language either. <strong>CSS is a style sheet language.</strong> CSS is what you use to selectively style HTML elements. For example, this CSS selects paragraph text, setting the color to red:</p> <div class="code-example"><div class="example-header"><span class="language-name">css</span></div><pre class="brush: css notranslate"><code>p { color: red; } </code></pre></div> <p>Let's try it out! Using a text editor, paste the three lines of CSS (above) into a new file. Save the file as <code>style.css</code> in a directory named <code>styles</code>.</p> <p>To make the code work, we still need to apply this CSS (above) to your HTML document. Otherwise, the styling won't change the appearance of the HTML. (If you haven't been following our project, pause here to read <a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/Dealing_with_files">Dealing with files</a> and <a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/HTML_basics">HTML basics</a>.)</p> <ol> <li> <p>Open your <code>index.html</code> file. Paste the following line in the head (between the <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/head"><code><head></code></a> and <code></head></code> tags):</p> <div class="code-example"><div class="example-header"><span class="language-name">html</span></div><pre class="brush: html notranslate"><code><link href="styles/style.css" rel="stylesheet" /> </code></pre></div> </li> <li> <p>Save <code>index.html</code> and load it in your browser. You should see something like this:</p> </li> </ol> <p> <img src="/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics/website-screenshot-styled.png" alt="A Mozilla logo and some paragraphs. The paragraph text has been styled red by our css." width="711" height="832" loading="lazy"> </p> <p>If your paragraph text is red, congratulations! Your CSS is working.</p></div></section><section aria-labelledby="anatomy_of_a_css_ruleset"><h3 id="anatomy_of_a_css_ruleset"><a href="#anatomy_of_a_css_ruleset">Anatomy of a CSS ruleset</a></h3><div class="section-content"><p>Let's dissect the CSS code for red paragraph text to understand how it works:</p> <p> <img src="/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics/css-declaration-small.png" alt="CSS p declaration color red" width="850" height="480" loading="lazy"> </p> <p>The whole structure is called a <strong>ruleset</strong>. (The term <em>ruleset</em> is often referred to as just <em>rule</em>.) Note the names of the individual parts:</p> <dl> <dt id="selector"><a href="#selector">Selector</a></dt> <dd> <p>This is the HTML element name at the start of the ruleset. It defines the element(s) to be styled (in this example, <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/p"><code><p></code></a> elements). To style a different element, change the selector.</p> </dd> <dt id="declaration"><a href="#declaration">Declaration</a></dt> <dd> <p>This is a single rule like <code>color: red;</code>. It specifies which of the element's <strong>properties</strong> you want to style.</p> </dd> <dt id="properties"><a href="#properties">Properties</a></dt> <dd> <p>These are ways in which you can style an HTML element. (In this example, <code>color</code> is a property of the <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/p"><code><p></code></a> elements.) In CSS, you choose which properties you want to affect in the rule.</p> </dd> <dt id="property_value"><a href="#property_value">Property value</a></dt> <dd> <p>To the right of the property—after the colon—there is the <strong>property value</strong>. This chooses one out of many possible appearances for a given property. (For example, there are many <code>color</code> values in addition to <code>red</code>.)</p> </dd> </dl> <p>Note the other important parts of the syntax:</p> <ul> <li>Apart from the selector, each ruleset must be wrapped in curly braces. (<code>{}</code>)</li> <li>Within each declaration, you must use a colon (<code>:</code>) to separate the property from its value or values.</li> <li>Within each ruleset, you must use a semicolon (<code>;</code>) to separate each declaration from the next one.</li> </ul> <p>To modify multiple property values in one ruleset, write them separated by semicolons, like this:</p> <div class="code-example"><div class="example-header"><span class="language-name">css</span></div><pre class="brush: css notranslate"><code>p { color: red; width: 500px; border: 1px solid black; } </code></pre></div></div></section><section aria-labelledby="selecting_multiple_elements"><h3 id="selecting_multiple_elements"><a href="#selecting_multiple_elements">Selecting multiple elements</a></h3><div class="section-content"><p>You can also select multiple elements and apply a single ruleset to all of them. Separate multiple selectors by commas. For example:</p> <div class="code-example"><div class="example-header"><span class="language-name">css</span></div><pre class="brush: css notranslate"><code>p, li, h1 { color: red; } </code></pre></div></div></section><section aria-labelledby="different_types_of_selectors"><h3 id="different_types_of_selectors"><a href="#different_types_of_selectors">Different types of selectors</a></h3><div class="section-content"><p>There are many different types of selectors. The examples above use <strong>element selectors</strong>, which select all elements of a given type. But we can make more specific selections as well. Here are some of the more common types of selectors:</p> <figure class="table-container"><table class="standard-table no-markdown"> <thead> <tr> <th scope="col">Selector name</th> <th scope="col">What does it select</th> <th scope="col">Example</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td>Element selector (sometimes called a tag or type selector)</td> <td>All HTML elements of the specified type.</td> <td><code>p</code><br>selects <code><p></code></td> </tr> <tr> <td>ID selector</td> <td> The element on the page with the specified ID. On a given HTML page, each id value should be unique. </td> <td> <code>#my-id</code><br>selects <code><p id="my-id"></code> or <code><a id="my-id"></code> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Class selector</td> <td> The element(s) on the page with the specified class. Multiple instances of the same class can appear on a page. </td> <td> <code>.my-class</code><br>selects <code><p class="my-class"></code> and <code><a class="my-class"></code> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Attribute selector</td> <td>The element(s) on the page with the specified attribute.</td> <td> <code>img[src]</code><br>selects <code><img src="my-image.png"></code> but not <code><img></code> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Pseudo-class selector</td> <td> The specified element(s), but only when in the specified state. (For example, when a cursor hovers over a link.) </td> <td> <code>a:hover</code><br>selects <code><a></code>, but only when the mouse pointer is hovering over the link. </td> </tr> </tbody> </table></figure> <p>There are many more selectors to discover. To learn more, see the MDN <a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Selectors">Selectors guide</a>.</p></div></section><section aria-labelledby="fonts_and_text"><h2 id="fonts_and_text"><a href="#fonts_and_text">Fonts and text</a></h2><div class="section-content"><p>Now that we've explored some CSS fundamentals, let's improve the appearance of the example by adding more rules and information to the <code>style.css</code> file.</p> <ol> <li> <p>First, find the <a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/What_will_your_website_look_like#font">output from Google Fonts</a> that you previously saved from <a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/What_will_your_website_look_like">What will your website look like?</a>. Add the <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/link"><code><link></code></a> element somewhere inside your <code>index.html</code>'s head (anywhere between the <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/head"><code><head></code></a> and <code></head></code> tags). It looks something like this:</p> <div class="code-example"><div class="example-header"><span class="language-name">html</span></div><pre class="brush: html notranslate"><code><link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Open+Sans" rel="stylesheet" /> </code></pre></div> <p>This code links your page to a style sheet that loads the Open Sans font family with your webpage.</p> </li> <li> <p>Next, delete the existing rule you have in your <code>style.css</code> file. It was a good test, but let's not continue with lots of red text.</p> </li> <li> <p>Add the following lines (shown below), replacing the <code>font-family</code> assignment with your <code>font-family</code> selection from <a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/What_will_your_website_look_like#font">What will your website look like?</a>. The property <code>font-family</code> refers to the font(s) you want to use for text. This rule defines a global base font and font size for the whole page. Since <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/html"><code><html></code></a> is the parent element of the whole page, all elements inside it inherit the same <code>font-size</code> and <code>font-family</code>.</p> <div class="code-example"><div class="example-header"><span class="language-name">css</span></div><pre class="brush: css notranslate"><code>html { font-size: 10px; /* px means "pixels": the base font size is now 10 pixels high */ font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; /* this should be the rest of the output you got from Google Fonts */ } </code></pre></div> <div class="notecard note"> <p><strong>Note:</strong> Anything in CSS between <code>/*</code> and <code>*/</code> is a <strong>CSS comment</strong>. The browser ignores comments as it renders the code. CSS comments are a way for you to write helpful notes about your code or logic.</p> </div> </li> <li> <p>Now let's set font sizes for elements that will have text inside the HTML body (<a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/Heading_Elements"><h1></a>, <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/li"><code><li></code></a>, and <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/p"><code><p></code></a>). We'll also center the heading. Finally, let's expand the second ruleset (below) with settings for line height and letter spacing to make body content more readable.</p> <div class="code-example"><div class="example-header"><span class="language-name">css</span></div><pre class="brush: css notranslate"><code>h1 { font-size: 60px; text-align: center; } p, li { font-size: 16px; line-height: 2; letter-spacing: 1px; } </code></pre></div> </li> </ol> <p>Adjust the <code>px</code> values as you like. Your work-in-progress should look similar to this:</p> <p> <img src="/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics/website-screenshot-font-small.png" alt="A Mozilla logo and some paragraphs. A sans-serif font has been set, the font sizes, line height and letter spacing are adjusted, and the main page heading has been centered" width="921" height="1020" loading="lazy"> </p></div></section><section aria-labelledby="css_all_about_boxes"><h2 id="css_all_about_boxes"><a href="#css_all_about_boxes">CSS: all about boxes</a></h2><div class="section-content"><p>Something you'll notice about writing CSS: a lot of it is about boxes. This includes setting size, color, and position. Most HTML elements on your page can be thought of as boxes sitting on top of other boxes.</p> <p> <img src="/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics/boxes.jpg" alt="A big stack of boxes or crates sat on top of one another" width="640" height="463" loading="lazy"> </p> <p>Photo from <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3418115" class="external" target="_blank">https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3418115</a> Copyright © <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/26362" class="external" target="_blank">Jim Barton</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/" class="external" target="_blank">cc-by-sa/2.0</a></p> <p>CSS layout is mostly based on the <em>box model.</em> Each box taking up space on your page has properties like:</p> <ul> <li><code>padding</code>, the space around the content. In the example below, it is the space around the paragraph text.</li> <li><code>border</code>, the solid line that is just outside the padding.</li> <li><code>margin</code>, the space around the outside of the border.</li> </ul> <p> <img src="/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics/box-model.png" alt="Three boxes sat inside one another. From outside to in they are labelled margin, border and padding" width="574" height="450" loading="lazy"> </p> <p>In this section we also use:</p> <ul> <li><code>width</code> (of an element).</li> <li><code>background-color</code>, the color behind an element's content and padding.</li> <li><code>color</code>, the color of an element's content (usually text).</li> <li><code>text-shadow</code> sets a drop shadow on the text inside an element.</li> <li><code>display</code> sets the display mode of an element. (keep reading to learn more)</li> </ul> <p>To continue, let's add more CSS. Keep adding these new rules at the bottom of <code>style.css</code>. Experiment with changing values to see what happens.</p></div></section><section aria-labelledby="changing_the_page_color"><h3 id="changing_the_page_color"><a href="#changing_the_page_color">Changing the page color</a></h3><div class="section-content"><div class="code-example"><div class="example-header"><span class="language-name">css</span></div><pre class="brush: css notranslate"><code>html { background-color: #00539f; } </code></pre></div> <p>This rule sets a background color for the entire page. Change the color code to <a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/What_will_your_website_look_like#theme_color">the color you chose in What will my website look like?</a>.</p></div></section><section aria-labelledby="styling_the_body"><h3 id="styling_the_body"><a href="#styling_the_body">Styling the body</a></h3><div class="section-content"><div class="code-example"><div class="example-header"><span class="language-name">css</span></div><pre class="brush: css notranslate"><code>body { width: 600px; margin: 0 auto; background-color: #ff9500; padding: 0 20px 20px 20px; border: 5px solid black; } </code></pre></div> <p>There are several declarations for the <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/body"><code><body></code></a> element. Let's go through these line-by-line:</p> <ul> <li><code>width: 600px;</code> This forces the body to always be 600 pixels wide.</li> <li><code>margin: 0 auto;</code> When you set two values on a property like <code>margin</code> or <code>padding</code>, the first value affects the element's top <em>and</em> bottom side (setting it to <code>0</code> in this case); the second value affects the left <em>and</em> right side. (Here, <code>auto</code> is a special value that divides the available horizontal space evenly between left and right). You can also use one, two, three, or four values, as documented in <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/margin#syntax">Margin Syntax</a>.</li> <li><code>background-color: #FF9500;</code> This sets the element's background color. This project uses a reddish orange for the body background color, as opposed to dark blue for the <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/html"><code><html></code></a> element. (Feel free to experiment.)</li> <li><code>padding: 0 20px 20px 20px;</code> This sets four values for padding. The goal is to put some space around the content. In this example, there is no padding on the top of the body, and 20 pixels on the right, bottom and left. The values set top, right, bottom, left, in that order. As with <code>margin</code>, you can use one, two, three, or four values, as documented in <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/padding#syntax">Padding Syntax</a>.</li> <li><code>border: 5px solid black;</code> This sets values for the width, style and color of the border. In this case, it's a five-pixel–wide, solid black border, on all sides of the body.</li> </ul></div></section><section aria-labelledby="positioning_and_styling_the_main_page_title"><h3 id="positioning_and_styling_the_main_page_title"><a href="#positioning_and_styling_the_main_page_title">Positioning and styling the main page title</a></h3><div class="section-content"><div class="code-example"><div class="example-header"><span class="language-name">css</span></div><pre class="brush: css notranslate"><code>h1 { margin: 0; padding: 20px 0; color: #00539f; text-shadow: 3px 3px 1px black; } </code></pre></div> <p>You may have noticed there's a horrible gap at the top of the body. That happens because browsers apply default styling to the <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/Heading_Elements">h1</a> element (among others). That might seem like a bad idea, but the intent is to provide basic readability for unstyled pages. To eliminate the gap, we overwrite the browser's default styling with the setting <code>margin: 0;</code>.</p> <p>Next, we set the heading's top and bottom padding to 20 pixels.</p> <p>Following that, we set the heading text to be the same color as the HTML background color.</p> <p>Finally, <code>text-shadow</code> applies a shadow to the text content of the element. Its four values are:</p> <ul> <li>The first pixel value sets the <strong>horizontal offset</strong> of the shadow from the text: how far it moves across.</li> <li>The second pixel value sets the <strong>vertical offset</strong> of the shadow from the text: how far it moves down.</li> <li>The third pixel value sets the <strong>blur radius</strong> of the shadow. A larger value produces a more fuzzy-looking shadow.</li> <li>The fourth value sets the base color of the shadow.</li> </ul> <p>Try experimenting with different values to see how it changes the appearance.</p></div></section><section aria-labelledby="centering_the_image"><h3 id="centering_the_image"><a href="#centering_the_image">Centering the image</a></h3><div class="section-content"><div class="code-example"><div class="example-header"><span class="language-name">css</span></div><pre class="brush: css notranslate"><code>img { display: block; margin: 0 auto; } </code></pre></div> <p>Next, we center the image to make it look better. We could use the <code>margin: 0 auto</code> trick again as we did for the body. But there are differences that require an additional setting to make the CSS work.</p> <p>The <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/body"><code><body></code></a> is a <strong>block</strong> element, meaning it takes up space on the page. The margin applied to a block element will be respected by other elements on the page. In contrast, images are <strong>inline</strong> elements, for the auto margin trick to work on this image, we must give it block-level behavior using <code>display: block;</code>.</p> <div class="notecard note"> <p><strong>Note:</strong> The instructions above assume that you're using an image smaller than the width set on the body. (600 pixels) If your image is larger, it will overflow the body, spilling into the rest of the page. To fix this, you can either: 1) reduce the image width using a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raster_graphics_editor" class="external" target="_blank">graphics editor</a>, or 2) use CSS to size the image by setting the <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/width"><code>width</code></a> property on the <code><img></code> element with a smaller value.</p> </div> <div class="notecard note"> <p><strong>Note:</strong> Don't be too concerned if you don't completely understand <code>display: block;</code> or the differences between a block element and an inline element. It will make more sense as you continue your study of CSS. You can find more information about different display values on MDN's <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/display">display reference page</a>.</p> </div></div></section><section aria-labelledby="conclusion"><h2 id="conclusion"><a href="#conclusion">Conclusion</a></h2><div class="section-content"><p>If you followed all the instructions in this article, you should have a page that looks similar to this one:</p> <p> <img src="/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics/website-screenshot-final.png" alt="A Mozilla logo, centered, and a header and paragraphs. It now looks nicely styled, with a blue background for the whole page and orange background for the centered main content strip." width="940" height="1084" loading="lazy"> </p> <p>(You can <a href="https://mdn.github.io/beginner-html-site-styled/" class="external" target="_blank">view our version here</a>.) If you get stuck, you can always compare your work with our <a href="https://github.com/mdn/beginner-html-site-styled/blob/gh-pages/styles/style.css" class="external" target="_blank">finished example code on GitHub</a>.</p> <p>In this exercise, we have just scratched the surface of CSS. To go further, see <a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS">Learning to style HTML using CSS</a>.</p><ul class="prev-next"> <li><a class="button secondary" href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/HTML_basics"><span class="button-wrap"> Previous </span></a></li> <li><a class="button secondary" href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web"><span class="button-wrap"> Overview: Getting started with the web</span></a></li> <li><a class="button secondary" href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/JavaScript_basics"><span class="button-wrap"> Next </span></a></li> </ul></div></section></article><aside class="article-footer"><div class="article-footer-inner"><div class="svg-container"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="162" height="162" viewBox="0 0 162 162" fill="none" role="none"><mask id="b" fill="#fff"><path d="M97.203 47.04c8.113-7.886 18.004-13.871 28.906-17.492a78 78 0 0 1 33.969-3.39c11.443 1.39 22.401 5.295 32.024 11.411s17.656 14.28 23.476 23.86c5.819 9.579 9.269 20.318 10.083 31.385a69.85 69.85 0 0 1-5.387 32.44c-4.358 10.272-11.115 19.443-19.747 26.801-8.632 7.359-18.908 12.709-30.034 15.637l-6.17-21.698c7.666-2.017 14.746-5.703 20.694-10.773 5.948-5.071 10.603-11.389 13.606-18.467a48.14 48.14 0 0 0 3.712-22.352c-.561-7.625-2.938-15.025-6.948-21.625s-9.544-12.226-16.175-16.44-14.181-6.904-22.065-7.863a53.75 53.75 0 0 0-23.405 2.336c-7.513 2.495-14.327 6.62-19.918 12.053z"></path></mask><path stroke="url(#a)" stroke-dasharray="6, 6" stroke-width="2" d="M97.203 47.04c8.113-7.886 18.004-13.871 28.906-17.492a78 78 0 0 1 33.969-3.39c11.443 1.39 22.401 5.295 32.024 11.411s17.656 14.28 23.476 23.86c5.819 9.579 9.269 20.318 10.083 31.385a69.85 69.85 0 0 1-5.387 32.44c-4.358 10.272-11.115 19.443-19.747 26.801-8.632 7.359-18.908 12.709-30.034 15.637l-6.17-21.698c7.666-2.017 14.746-5.703 20.694-10.773 5.948-5.071 10.603-11.389 13.606-18.467a48.14 48.14 0 0 0 3.712-22.352c-.561-7.625-2.938-15.025-6.948-21.625s-9.544-12.226-16.175-16.44-14.181-6.904-22.065-7.863a53.75 53.75 0 0 0-23.405 2.336c-7.513 2.495-14.327 6.62-19.918 12.053z" mask="url(#b)" style="stroke:url(#a)" transform="translate(-63.992 -25.587)"></path><ellipse cx="8.066" cy="111.597" fill="var(--background-tertiary)" rx="53.677" ry="53.699" transform="matrix(.71707 -.697 .7243 .6895 0 0)"></ellipse><g clip-path="url(#c)" transform="translate(-63.992 -25.587)"><path fill="#9abff5" d="m144.256 137.379 32.906 12.434a4.41 4.41 0 0 1 2.559 5.667l-9.326 24.679a4.41 4.41 0 0 1-5.667 2.559l-8.226-3.108-2.332 6.17c-.466 1.233-.375 1.883-1.609 1.417l-2.253-.527c-.411-.155-.95-.594-1.206-1.161l-4.734-10.484-12.545-4.741a4.41 4.41 0 0 1-2.559-5.667l9.325-24.679a4.41 4.41 0 0 1 5.667-2.559m9.961 29.617 8.227 3.108 3.264-8.638-.498-6.768-4.113-1.555.548 7.258-4.319-1.632zm-12.339-4.663 8.226 3.108 3.264-8.637-.498-6.769-4.113-1.554.548 7.257-4.319-1.632z"></path></g><g clip-path="url(#d)" transform="translate(-63.992 -25.587)"><path fill="#81b0f3" d="M135.35 60.136 86.67 41.654c-3.346-1.27-7.124.428-8.394 3.775L64.414 81.938c-1.27 3.347.428 7.125 3.774 8.395l12.17 4.62-3.465 9.128c-.693 1.826-1.432 2.457.394 3.15l3.014 1.625c.609.231 1.637.274 2.477-.104l15.53-6.983 18.56 7.047c3.346 1.27 7.124-.428 8.395-3.775l13.862-36.51c1.27-3.346-.428-7.124-3.775-8.395M95.261 83.207l-12.17-4.62 4.852-12.779 7.19-7.017 6.085 2.31-7.725 7.51 6.389 2.426zm18.255 6.93-12.17-4.62 4.852-12.778 7.189-7.017 6.085 2.31-7.725 7.51 6.39 2.426z"></path></g><defs><clipPath id="c"><path fill="#fff" d="m198.638 146.586-65.056-24.583-24.583 65.057 65.056 24.582z"></path></clipPath><clipPath id="d"><path fill="#fff" d="m66.438 14.055 96.242 36.54-36.54 96.243-96.243-36.54z"></path></clipPath><linearGradient id="a" x1="97.203" x2="199.995" y1="47.04" y2="152.793" gradientUnits="userSpaceOnUse"><stop stop-color="#086DFC"></stop><stop offset="0.246" stop-color="#2C81FA"></stop><stop offset="0.516" stop-color="#5497F8"></stop><stop offset="0.821" stop-color="#80B0F6"></stop><stop offset="1" stop-color="#9ABFF5"></stop></linearGradient></defs></svg></div><h2>Help improve MDN</h2><fieldset class="feedback"><label>Was this page helpful to you?</label><div class="button-container"><button type="button" class="button primary has-icon yes"><span class="button-wrap"><span class="icon icon-thumbs-up "></span>Yes</span></button><button type="button" class="button primary has-icon no"><span class="button-wrap"><span class="icon icon-thumbs-down "></span>No</span></button></div></fieldset><a class="contribute" href="https://github.com/mdn/content/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md" title="This will take you to our contribution guidelines on GitHub." target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Learn how to contribute</a>.<p class="last-modified-date">This page was last modified on <time dateTime="2024-10-25T00:08:46.000Z">Oct 25, 2024</time> by <a href="/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics/contributors.txt" rel="nofollow">MDN contributors</a>.</p><div id="on-github" class="on-github"><a href="https://github.com/mdn/content/blob/main/files/en-us/learn/getting_started_with_the_web/css_basics/index.md?plain=1" title="Folder: en-us/learn/getting_started_with_the_web/css_basics (Opens in a new tab)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">View this page on GitHub</a> • <a href="https://github.com/mdn/content/issues/new?template=page-report.yml&mdn-url=https%3A%2F%2Fdeveloper.mozilla.org%2Fen-US%2Fdocs%2FLearn%2FGetting_started_with_the_web%2FCSS_basics&metadata=%3C%21--+Do+not+make+changes+below+this+line+--%3E%0A%3Cdetails%3E%0A%3Csummary%3EPage+report+details%3C%2Fsummary%3E%0A%0A*+Folder%3A+%60en-us%2Flearn%2Fgetting_started_with_the_web%2Fcss_basics%60%0A*+MDN+URL%3A+https%3A%2F%2Fdeveloper.mozilla.org%2Fen-US%2Fdocs%2FLearn%2FGetting_started_with_the_web%2FCSS_basics%0A*+GitHub+URL%3A+https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.com%2Fmdn%2Fcontent%2Fblob%2Fmain%2Ffiles%2Fen-us%2Flearn%2Fgetting_started_with_the_web%2Fcss_basics%2Findex.md%0A*+Last+commit%3A+https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.com%2Fmdn%2Fcontent%2Fcommit%2Fbaac7f2a43813a7930ff97b11d9c38b413f97c78%0A*+Document+last+modified%3A+2024-10-25T00%3A08%3A46.000Z%0A%0A%3C%2Fdetails%3E" title="This will take you to GitHub to file a new issue." target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Report a problem with this content</a></div></div></aside></main></div></div><footer id="nav-footer" class="page-footer"><div class="page-footer-grid"><div class="page-footer-logo-col"><a href="/" class="mdn-footer-logo" aria-label="MDN homepage"><svg width="48" height="17" viewBox="0 0 48 17" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><title id="mdn-footer-logo-svg">MDN logo</title><path d="M20.04 16.512H15.504V10.416C15.504 9.488 15.344 8.824 15.024 8.424C14.72 8.024 14.264 7.824 13.656 7.824C12.92 7.824 12.384 8.064 12.048 8.544C11.728 9.024 11.568 9.64 11.568 10.392V14.184H13.008V16.512H8.472V10.416C8.472 9.488 8.312 8.824 7.992 8.424C7.688 8.024 7.232 7.824 6.624 7.824C5.872 7.824 5.336 8.064 5.016 8.544C4.696 9.024 4.536 9.64 4.536 10.392V14.184H6.6V16.512H0V14.184H1.44V8.04H0.024V5.688H4.536V7.32C5.224 6.088 6.32 5.472 7.824 5.472C8.608 5.472 9.328 5.664 9.984 6.048C10.64 6.432 11.096 7.016 11.352 7.8C11.992 6.248 13.168 5.472 14.88 5.472C15.856 5.472 16.72 5.776 17.472 6.384C18.224 6.992 18.6 7.936 18.6 9.216V14.184H20.04V16.512Z" fill="currentColor"></path><path d="M33.6714 16.512H29.1354V14.496C28.8314 15.12 28.3834 15.656 27.7914 16.104C27.1994 16.536 26.4154 16.752 25.4394 16.752C24.0154 16.752 22.8954 16.264 22.0794 15.288C21.2634 14.312 20.8554 12.984 20.8554 11.304C20.8554 9.688 21.2554 8.312 22.0554 7.176C22.8554 6.04 24.0634 5.472 25.6794 5.472C26.5594 5.472 27.2794 5.648 27.8394 6C28.3994 6.352 28.8314 6.8 29.1354 7.344V2.352H26.9754V0H32.2314V14.184H33.6714V16.512ZM29.1354 11.04V10.776C29.1354 9.88 28.8954 9.184 28.4154 8.688C27.9514 8.176 27.3674 7.92 26.6634 7.92C25.9754 7.92 25.3674 8.176 24.8394 8.688C24.3274 9.2 24.0714 10.008 24.0714 11.112C24.0714 12.152 24.3114 12.944 24.7914 13.488C25.2714 14.032 25.8394 14.304 26.4954 14.304C27.3114 14.304 27.9514 13.96 28.4154 13.272C28.8954 12.584 29.1354 11.84 29.1354 11.04Z" fill="currentColor"></path><path d="M47.9589 16.512H41.9829V14.184H43.4229V10.416C43.4229 9.488 43.2629 8.824 42.9429 8.424C42.6389 8.024 42.1829 7.824 41.5749 7.824C40.8389 7.824 40.2709 8.056 39.8709 8.52C39.4709 8.968 39.2629 9.56 39.2469 10.296V14.184H40.6869V16.512H34.7109V14.184H36.1509V8.04H34.5909V5.688H39.2469V7.344C39.9669 6.096 41.1269 5.472 42.7269 5.472C43.7509 5.472 44.6389 5.776 45.3909 6.384C46.1429 6.992 46.5189 7.936 46.5189 9.216V14.184H47.9589V16.512Z" fill="currentColor"></path></svg></a><p>Your blueprint for a better internet.</p><ul class="social-icons"><li><a href="https://mozilla.social/@mdn" target="_blank" rel="me noopener noreferrer"><span class="icon icon-mastodon"></span><span class="visually-hidden">MDN on Mastodon</span></a></li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/mozdevnet" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span class="icon icon-twitter-x"></span><span class="visually-hidden">MDN on X (formerly Twitter)</span></a></li><li><a href="https://github.com/mdn/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span class="icon icon-github-mark-small"></span><span class="visually-hidden">MDN on GitHub</span></a></li><li><a href="/en-US/blog/rss.xml" target="_blank"><span class="icon icon-feed"></span><span class="visually-hidden">MDN Blog RSS Feed</span></a></li></ul></div><div class="page-footer-nav-col-1"><h2 class="footer-nav-heading">MDN</h2><ul class="footer-nav-list"><li class="footer-nav-item"><a href="/en-US/about">About</a></li><li class="footer-nav-item"><a href="/en-US/blog/">Blog</a></li><li class="footer-nav-item"><a href="https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/careers/listings/?team=ProdOps" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Careers</a></li><li class="footer-nav-item"><a href="/en-US/advertising">Advertise with us</a></li></ul></div><div class="page-footer-nav-col-2"><h2 class="footer-nav-heading">Support</h2><ul class="footer-nav-list"><li class="footer-nav-item"><a class="footer-nav-link" href="https://support.mozilla.org/products/mdn-plus">Product help</a></li><li class="footer-nav-item"><a class="footer-nav-link" href="/en-US/docs/MDN/Community/Issues">Report an issue</a></li></ul></div><div class="page-footer-nav-col-3"><h2 class="footer-nav-heading">Our communities</h2><ul class="footer-nav-list"><li class="footer-nav-item"><a class="footer-nav-link" href="/en-US/community">MDN Community</a></li><li class="footer-nav-item"><a class="footer-nav-link" href="https://discourse.mozilla.org/c/mdn/236" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MDN Forum</a></li><li class="footer-nav-item"><a class="footer-nav-link" href="/discord" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MDN Chat</a></li></ul></div><div class="page-footer-nav-col-4"><h2 class="footer-nav-heading">Developers</h2><ul class="footer-nav-list"><li class="footer-nav-item"><a class="footer-nav-link" href="/en-US/docs/Web">Web Technologies</a></li><li class="footer-nav-item"><a class="footer-nav-link" href="/en-US/docs/Learn">Learn Web Development</a></li><li class="footer-nav-item"><a class="footer-nav-link" href="/en-US/plus">MDN Plus</a></li><li class="footer-nav-item"><a href="https://hacks.mozilla.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hacks Blog</a></li></ul></div><div class="page-footer-moz"><a href="https://www.mozilla.org/" class="footer-moz-logo-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><svg width="112" height="32" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><title id="mozilla-footer-logo-svg">Mozilla logo</title><path d="M41.753 14.218c-2.048 0-3.324 1.522-3.324 4.157 0 2.423 1.119 4.286 3.29 4.286 2.082 0 3.447-1.678 3.447-4.347 0-2.826-1.522-4.096-3.413-4.096Zm54.89 7.044c0 .901.437 1.618 1.645 1.618 1.427 0 2.949-1.024 3.044-3.352-.649-.095-1.365-.185-2.02-.185-1.426-.005-2.668.397-2.668 1.92Z" fill="currentColor"></path><path d="M0 0v32h111.908V0H0Zm32.56 25.426h-5.87v-7.884c0-2.423-.806-3.352-2.39-3.352-1.924 0-2.702 1.365-2.702 3.324v4.868h1.864v3.044h-5.864v-7.884c0-2.423-.806-3.352-2.39-3.352-1.924 0-2.702 1.365-2.702 3.324v4.868h2.669v3.044H6.642v-3.044h1.863v-7.918H6.642V11.42h5.864v2.11c.839-1.489 2.3-2.39 4.252-2.39 2.02 0 3.878.963 4.566 3.01.778-1.862 2.361-3.01 4.566-3.01 2.512 0 4.812 1.522 4.812 4.84v6.402h1.863v3.044h-.005Zm9.036.307c-4.314 0-7.296-2.635-7.296-7.106 0-4.096 2.484-7.481 7.514-7.481s7.481 3.38 7.481 7.29c0 4.472-3.228 7.297-7.699 7.297Zm22.578-.307H51.942l-.403-2.11 7.7-8.846h-4.376l-.621 2.17-2.888-.313.498-4.907h12.294l.313 2.11-7.767 8.852h4.533l.654-2.172 3.167.308-.872 4.908Zm7.99 0h-4.191v-5.03h4.19v5.03Zm0-8.976h-4.191v-5.03h4.19v5.03Zm2.618 8.976 6.054-21.358h3.945l-6.054 21.358h-3.945Zm8.136 0 6.048-21.358h3.945l-6.054 21.358h-3.939Zm21.486.307c-1.863 0-2.887-1.085-3.072-2.792-.805 1.427-2.232 2.792-4.498 2.792-2.02 0-4.314-1.085-4.314-4.006 0-3.447 3.323-4.253 6.518-4.253.778 0 1.584.034 2.3.124v-.465c0-1.427-.034-3.133-2.3-3.133-.84 0-1.488.061-2.143.402l-.453 1.578-3.195-.34.549-3.224c2.45-.996 3.692-1.27 5.992-1.27 3.01 0 5.556 1.55 5.556 4.75v6.083c0 .805.314 1.085.963 1.085.184 0 .375-.034.587-.095l.034 2.11a5.432 5.432 0 0 1-2.524.654Z" fill="currentColor"></path></svg></a><ul class="footer-moz-list"><li class="footer-moz-item"><a href="https://www.mozilla.org/privacy/websites/" class="footer-moz-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Website Privacy Notice</a></li><li class="footer-moz-item"><a href="https://www.mozilla.org/privacy/websites/#cookies" class="footer-moz-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Cookies</a></li><li class="footer-moz-item"><a href="https://www.mozilla.org/about/legal/terms/mozilla" class="footer-moz-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Legal</a></li><li class="footer-moz-item"><a href="https://www.mozilla.org/about/governance/policies/participation/" class="footer-moz-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Community Participation Guidelines</a></li></ul></div><div class="page-footer-legal"><p id="license" class="page-footer-legal-text">Visit <a href="https://www.mozilla.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mozilla Corporation’s</a> not-for-profit parent, the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://foundation.mozilla.org/">Mozilla Foundation</a>.<br/>Portions of this content are ©1998–2024 by individual mozilla.org contributors. Content available under <a href="/en-US/docs/MDN/Writing_guidelines/Attrib_copyright_license">a Creative Commons license</a>.</p></div></div></footer></div><script type="application/json" id="hydration">{"url":"/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics","doc":{"isMarkdown":true,"isTranslated":false,"isActive":true,"flaws":{},"title":"CSS basics","mdn_url":"/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics","locale":"en-US","native":"English (US)","sidebarHTML":"<ol><li class=\"section\"><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web\">Complete beginners start here!</a></li><li><details open=\"\"><summary>Getting started with the web</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web\">Getting started with the web</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/Installing_basic_software\">Installing basic software</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/What_will_your_website_look_like\">What will your website look like?</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/Dealing_with_files\">Dealing with files</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/HTML_basics\">HTML basics</a></li><li><em><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics\" aria-current=\"page\">CSS basics</a></em></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/JavaScript_basics\">JavaScript basics</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/Publishing_your_website\">Publishing your website</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/How_the_Web_works\">How the web works</a></li></ol></details></li><li class=\"section\"><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML\">HTML — Structuring the web</a></li><li><details><summary>Introduction to HTML</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Introduction_to_HTML\">Introduction to HTML</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Introduction_to_HTML/Getting_started\">Getting started with HTML</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Introduction_to_HTML/The_head_metadata_in_HTML\">What's in the head? Metadata in HTML</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Introduction_to_HTML/HTML_text_fundamentals\">HTML text fundamentals</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Introduction_to_HTML/Creating_hyperlinks\">Creating hyperlinks</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Introduction_to_HTML/Advanced_text_formatting\">Advanced text formatting</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Introduction_to_HTML/Document_and_website_structure\">Document and website structure</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Introduction_to_HTML/Debugging_HTML\">Debugging HTML</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Introduction_to_HTML/Marking_up_a_letter\">Marking up a letter</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Introduction_to_HTML/Structuring_a_page_of_content\">Structuring a page of content</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Multimedia and embedding</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Multimedia_and_embedding\">Multimedia and embedding</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Multimedia_and_embedding/Images_in_HTML\">Images in HTML</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Multimedia_and_embedding/Video_and_audio_content\">Video and audio content</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Multimedia_and_embedding/Other_embedding_technologies\">From object to iframe — other embedding technologies</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Multimedia_and_embedding/Adding_vector_graphics_to_the_Web\">Adding vector graphics to the web</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Multimedia_and_embedding/Responsive_images\">Responsive images</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Multimedia_and_embedding/Mozilla_splash_page\">Mozilla splash page</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>HTML tables</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Tables\">HTML tables</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Tables/Basics\">HTML table basics</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Tables/Advanced\">HTML table advanced features and accessibility</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Tables/Structuring_planet_data\">Structuring planet data</a></li></ol></details></li><li class=\"section\"><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS\">CSS — Styling the web</a></li><li><details><summary>CSS first steps</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/First_steps\">CSS first steps</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/First_steps/What_is_CSS\">What is CSS?</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/First_steps/Getting_started\">Getting started with CSS</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/First_steps/How_CSS_is_structured\">How CSS is structured</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/First_steps/How_CSS_works\">How CSS works</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/First_steps/Styling_a_biography_page\">Styling a biography page</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>CSS building blocks</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks\">CSS building blocks</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Selectors\">CSS selectors</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Selectors/Type_Class_and_ID_Selectors\">Type, class, and ID selectors</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Selectors/Attribute_selectors\">Attribute selectors</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Selectors/Pseudo-classes_and_pseudo-elements\">Pseudo-classes and pseudo-elements</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Selectors/Combinators\">Combinators</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Cascade_and_inheritance\">Cascade, specificity, and inheritance</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Cascade_layers\">Cascade layers</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/The_box_model\">The box model</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Backgrounds_and_borders\">Backgrounds and borders</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Handling_different_text_directions\">Handling different text directions</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Overflowing_content\">Overflowing content</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Values_and_units\">CSS values and units</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Sizing_items_in_CSS\">Sizing items in CSS</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Images_media_form_elements\">Images, media, and form elements</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Styling_tables\">Styling tables</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Advanced_styling_effects\">Advanced styling effects</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Debugging_CSS\">Debugging CSS</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Organizing\">Organizing your CSS</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Fundamental_CSS_comprehension\">Fundamental CSS comprehension</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Creating_fancy_letterheaded_paper\">Creating fancy letterheaded paper</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/A_cool_looking_box\">A cool-looking box</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Styling text</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Styling_text\">CSS styling text</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Styling_text/Fundamentals\">Fundamental text and font styling</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Styling_text/Styling_lists\">Styling lists</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Styling_text/Styling_links\">Styling links</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Styling_text/Web_fonts\">Web fonts</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Styling_text/Typesetting_a_homepage\">Typesetting a community school homepage</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>CSS layout</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout\">CSS layout</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Introduction\">Introduction to CSS layout</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Normal_Flow\">Normal Flow</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Flexbox\">Flexbox</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Grids\">Grids</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Floats\">Floats</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Positioning\">Positioning</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Multiple-column_Layout\">Multiple-column layout</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Responsive_Design\">Responsive design</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Media_queries\">Beginner's guide to media queries</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Legacy_Layout_Methods\">Legacy layout methods</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Supporting_Older_Browsers\">Supporting older browsers</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Fundamental_Layout_Comprehension\">Fundamental layout comprehension</a></li></ol></details></li><li class=\"section\"><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript\">JavaScript — Dynamic client-side scripting</a></li><li><details><summary>JavaScript first steps</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps\">JavaScript first steps</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/What_is_JavaScript\">What is JavaScript?</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/A_first_splash\">A first splash into JavaScript</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/What_went_wrong\">What went wrong? Troubleshooting JavaScript</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/Variables\">Storing the information you need — Variables</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/Math\">Basic math in JavaScript — numbers and operators</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/Strings\">Handling text — strings in JavaScript</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/Useful_string_methods\">Useful string methods</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/Arrays\">Arrays</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/Silly_story_generator\">Silly story generator</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>JavaScript building blocks</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Building_blocks\">JavaScript building blocks</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Building_blocks/conditionals\">Making decisions in your code — conditionals</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Building_blocks/Looping_code\">Looping code</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Building_blocks/Functions\">Functions — reusable blocks of code</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Building_blocks/Build_your_own_function\">Build your own function</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Building_blocks/Return_values\">Function return values</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Building_blocks/Events\">Introduction to events</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Building_blocks/Event_bubbling\">Event bubbling</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Building_blocks/Image_gallery\">Image gallery</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Introducing JavaScript objects</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Objects\">Introducing JavaScript objects</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Objects/Basics\">JavaScript object basics</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Objects/Object_prototypes\">Object prototypes</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Objects/Object-oriented_programming\">Object-oriented programming</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Objects/Classes_in_JavaScript\">Classes in JavaScript</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Objects/JSON\">Working with JSON</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Objects/Object_building_practice\">Object building practice</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Objects/Adding_bouncing_balls_features\">Adding features to our bouncing balls demo</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Asynchronous JavaScript</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Asynchronous\">Asynchronous JavaScript</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Asynchronous/Introducing\">Introducing asynchronous JavaScript</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Asynchronous/Promises\">How to use promises</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Asynchronous/Implementing_a_promise-based_API\">How to implement a promise-based API</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Asynchronous/Introducing_workers\">Introducing workers</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Asynchronous/Sequencing_animations\">Sequencing animations</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Client-side web APIs</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Client-side_web_APIs\">Client-side web APIs</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Client-side_web_APIs/Introduction\">Introduction to web APIs</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Client-side_web_APIs/Manipulating_documents\">Manipulating documents</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Client-side_web_APIs/Fetching_data\">Fetching data from the server</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Client-side_web_APIs/Third_party_APIs\">Third-party APIs</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Client-side_web_APIs/Drawing_graphics\">Drawing graphics</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Client-side_web_APIs/Video_and_audio_APIs\">Video and Audio APIs</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Client-side_web_APIs/Client-side_storage\">Client-side storage</a></li></ol></details></li><li class=\"section\"><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms\">Web forms — Working with user data</a></li><li><details><summary>Web form building blocks</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms\">Web form building blocks</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/Your_first_form\">Your first form</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/How_to_structure_a_web_form\">How to structure a web form</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/Basic_native_form_controls\">Basic native form controls</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/HTML5_input_types\">The HTML5 input types</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/Other_form_controls\">Other form controls</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/Styling_web_forms\">Styling web forms</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/Advanced_form_styling\">Advanced form styling</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/UI_pseudo-classes\">UI pseudo-classes</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/Form_validation\">Client-side form validation</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/Sending_and_retrieving_form_data\">Sending form data</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Advanced web form techniques</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/How_to_build_custom_form_controls\">How to build custom form controls</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/Sending_forms_through_JavaScript\">Sending forms through JavaScript</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/Property_compatibility_table_for_form_controls\">CSS property compatibility table for form controls</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Forms/HTML_forms_in_legacy_browsers\">HTML forms in legacy browsers</a></li></ol></details></li><li class=\"section\"><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Accessibility\">Accessibility — Make the web usable by everyone</a></li><li><details><summary>Accessibility guides</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Accessibility\">Accessibility</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Accessibility/What_is_accessibility\">What is accessibility?</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Accessibility/HTML\">HTML: A good basis for accessibility</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Accessibility/CSS_and_JavaScript\">CSS and JavaScript accessibility best practices</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Accessibility/WAI-ARIA_basics\">WAI-ARIA basics</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Accessibility/Multimedia\">Accessible multimedia</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Accessibility/Mobile\">Mobile accessibility</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Accessibility/Accessibility_troubleshooting\">Assessment: Accessibility troubleshooting</a></li></ol></details></li><li class=\"section\"><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance\">Performance — Making websites fast and responsive</a></li><li><details><summary>Performance guides</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance\">Web performance</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/why_web_performance\">The \"why\" of web performance</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/What_is_web_performance\">What is web performance?</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/Perceived_performance\">Perceived performance</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/Measuring_performance\">Measuring performance</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/Multimedia\">Multimedia: Images</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/video\">Multimedia: video</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/JavaScript\">JavaScript performance optimization</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/HTML\">HTML performance optimization</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/CSS\">CSS performance optimization</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Performance/business_case_for_performance\">The business case for web performance</a></li></ol></details></li><li class=\"section\"><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/MathML\">MathML — Writing mathematics with MathML</a></li><li><details><summary>MathML first steps</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/MathML/First_steps\">MathML first steps</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/MathML/First_steps/Getting_started\">Getting started with MathML</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/MathML/First_steps/Text_containers\">MathML Text Containers</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/MathML/First_steps/Fractions_and_roots\">MathML fractions and roots</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/MathML/First_steps/Scripts\">MathML scripted elements</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/MathML/First_steps/Tables\">MathML tables</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/MathML/First_steps/Three_famous_mathematical_formulas\">Three famous mathematical formulas</a></li></ol></details></li><li class=\"section\"><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/../Games\">Games — Developing games for the web</a></li><li><details><summary>Guides and tutorials</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Games/Introduction\">Introduction to game development for the Web</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Games/Techniques\">Techniques for game development</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Games/Tutorials\">Tutorials</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Games/Publishing_games\">Publishing games</a></li></ol></details></li><li class=\"section\"><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing\">Tools and testing</a></li><li><details><summary>Client-side web development tools</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Understanding_client-side_tools\">Understanding client-side web development tools</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Understanding_client-side_tools/Overview\">Client-side tooling overview</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Understanding_client-side_tools/Command_line\">Command line crash course</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Understanding_client-side_tools/Package_management\">Package management basics</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Understanding_client-side_tools/Introducing_complete_toolchain\">Introducing a complete toolchain</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Understanding_client-side_tools/Deployment\">Deploying our app</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Introduction to client-side frameworks</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Introduction\">Introduction to client-side frameworks</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Main_features\">Framework main features</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>React</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/React_getting_started\">Getting started with React</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/React_todo_list_beginning\">Beginning our React todo list</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/React_components\">Componentizing our React app</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/React_interactivity_events_state\">React interactivity: Events and state</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/React_interactivity_filtering_conditional_rendering\">React interactivity: Editing, filtering, conditional rendering</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/React_accessibility\">Accessibility in React</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/React_resources\">React resources</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Ember</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Ember_getting_started\">Getting started with Ember</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Ember_structure_componentization\">Ember app structure and componentization</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Ember_interactivity_events_state\">Ember interactivity: Events, classes and state</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Ember_conditional_footer\">Ember Interactivity: Footer functionality, conditional rendering</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Ember_routing\">Routing in Ember</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Ember_resources\">Ember resources and troubleshooting</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Vue</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Vue_getting_started\">Getting started with Vue</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Vue_first_component\">Creating our first Vue component</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Vue_rendering_lists\">Rendering a list of Vue components</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Vue_methods_events_models\">Adding a new todo form: Vue events, methods, and models</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Vue_styling\">Styling Vue components with CSS</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Vue_computed_properties\">Using Vue computed properties</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Vue_conditional_rendering\">Vue conditional rendering: editing existing todos</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Vue_refs_focus_management\">Vue refs and lifecycle methods for focus management</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Vue_resources\">Vue resources</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Svelte</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Svelte_getting_started\">Getting started with Svelte</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Svelte_Todo_list_beginning\">Starting our Svelte to-do list app</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Svelte_variables_props\">Dynamic behavior in Svelte: working with variables and props</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Svelte_components\">Componentizing our Svelte app</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Svelte_reactivity_lifecycle_accessibility\">Advanced Svelte: Reactivity, lifecycle, accessibility</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Svelte_stores\">Working with Svelte stores</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Svelte_TypeScript\">TypeScript support in Svelte</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Svelte_deployment_next\">Deployment and next steps</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Angular</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Angular_getting_started\">Getting started with Angular</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Angular_todo_list_beginning\">Beginning our Angular todo list app</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Angular_styling\">Styling our Angular app</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Angular_item_component\">Creating an item component</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Angular_filtering\">Filtering our to-do items</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Client-side_JavaScript_frameworks/Angular_building\">Building Angular applications and further resources</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Git and GitHub</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/GitHub\">Git and GitHub</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Cross browser testing</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Cross_browser_testing\">Cross browser testing</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Cross_browser_testing/Introduction\">Introduction to cross-browser testing</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Cross_browser_testing/Testing_strategies\">Strategies for carrying out testing</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Cross_browser_testing/HTML_and_CSS\">Handling common HTML and CSS problems</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Cross_browser_testing/JavaScript\">Handling common JavaScript problems</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Cross_browser_testing/Accessibility\">Handling common accessibility problems</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Cross_browser_testing/Feature_detection\">Implementing feature detection</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Cross_browser_testing/Automated_testing\">Introduction to automated testing</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Tools_and_testing/Cross_browser_testing/Your_own_automation_environment\">Setting up your own test automation environment</a></li></ol></details></li><li class=\"section\"><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side\">Server-side website programming</a></li><li><details><summary>First steps</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/First_steps\">Server-side website programming first steps</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/First_steps/Introduction\">Introduction to the server side</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/First_steps/Client-Server_overview\">Client-Server Overview</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/First_steps/Web_frameworks\">Server-side web frameworks</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/First_steps/Website_security\">Website security</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Django web framework (Python)</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django\">Django Web Framework (Python)</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Introduction\">Django introduction</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/development_environment\">Setting up a Django development environment</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Tutorial_local_library_website\">Django Tutorial: The Local Library website</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/skeleton_website\">Django Tutorial Part 2: Creating a skeleton website</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Models\">Django Tutorial Part 3: Using models</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Admin_site\">Django Tutorial Part 4: Django admin site</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Home_page\">Django Tutorial Part 5: Creating our home page</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Generic_views\">Django Tutorial Part 6: Generic list and detail views</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Sessions\">Django Tutorial Part 7: Sessions framework</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Authentication\">Django Tutorial Part 8: User authentication and permissions</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Forms\">Django Tutorial Part 9: Working with forms</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Testing\">Django Tutorial Part 10: Testing a Django web application</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Deployment\">Django Tutorial Part 11: Deploying Django to production</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/web_application_security\">Django web application security</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/django_assessment_blog\">Assessment: DIY Django mini blog</a></li></ol></details></li><li><details><summary>Express Web Framework (Node.js/JavaScript)</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs\">Express web framework (Node.js/JavaScript)</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs/Introduction\">Express/Node introduction</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs/development_environment\">Setting up a Node development environment</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs/Tutorial_local_library_website\">Express Tutorial: The Local Library website</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs/skeleton_website\">Express Tutorial Part 2: Creating a skeleton website</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs/mongoose\">Express Tutorial Part 3: Using a Database (with Mongoose)</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs/routes\">Express Tutorial Part 4: Routes and controllers</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs/Displaying_data\">Express Tutorial Part 5: Displaying library data</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs/forms\">Express Tutorial Part 6: Working with forms</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Express_Nodejs/deployment\">Express Tutorial Part 7: Deploying to production</a></li></ol></details></li><li class=\"section\"><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Common_questions\">Further resources</a></li><li><details><summary>Common questions</summary><ol><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Common_questions\">Common questions</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/HTML/Howto\">Use HTML to solve common problems</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Howto\">Use CSS to solve common problems</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Howto\">Solve common problems in your JavaScript code</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Common_questions/Web_mechanics\">Web mechanics</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Common_questions/Tools_and_setup\">Tools and setup</a></li><li><a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Common_questions/Design_and_accessibility\">Design and accessibility</a></li></ol></details></li></ol>","sidebarMacro":"LearnSidebar","body":[{"type":"prose","value":{"id":null,"title":null,"isH3":false,"content":"<ul class=\"prev-next\">\n <li><a class=\"button secondary\" href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/HTML_basics\"><span class=\"button-wrap\"> Previous </span></a></li>\n <li><a class=\"button secondary\" href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web\"><span class=\"button-wrap\"> Overview: Getting started with the web</span></a></li>\n <li><a class=\"button secondary\" href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/JavaScript_basics\"><span class=\"button-wrap\"> Next </span></a></li>\n</ul>\n<p>CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is the code that styles web content. <em>CSS basics</em> walks through what you need to get started. We'll answer questions like: How do I make text red? How do I make content display at a certain location in the (webpage) layout? How do I decorate my webpage with background images and colors?</p>"}},{"type":"prose","value":{"id":"what_is_css","title":"What is CSS?","isH3":false,"content":"<p>Like HTML, CSS is not a programming language. It's not a markup language either. <strong>CSS is a style sheet language.</strong> CSS is what you use to selectively style HTML elements. For example, this CSS selects paragraph text, setting the color to red:</p>\n<div class=\"code-example\"><div class=\"example-header\"><span class=\"language-name\">css</span></div><pre class=\"brush: css notranslate\"><code>p {\n color: red;\n}\n</code></pre></div>\n<p>Let's try it out! Using a text editor, paste the three lines of CSS (above) into a new file. Save the file as <code>style.css</code> in a directory named <code>styles</code>.</p>\n<p>To make the code work, we still need to apply this CSS (above) to your HTML document. Otherwise, the styling won't change the appearance of the HTML. (If you haven't been following our project, pause here to read <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/Dealing_with_files\">Dealing with files</a> and <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/HTML_basics\">HTML basics</a>.)</p>\n<ol>\n <li>\n <p>Open your <code>index.html</code> file. Paste the following line in the head (between the <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/head\"><code><head></code></a> and <code></head></code> tags):</p>\n <div class=\"code-example\"><div class=\"example-header\"><span class=\"language-name\">html</span></div><pre class=\"brush: html notranslate\"><code><link href=\"styles/style.css\" rel=\"stylesheet\" />\n</code></pre></div>\n </li>\n <li>\n <p>Save <code>index.html</code> and load it in your browser. You should see something like this:</p>\n </li>\n</ol>\n<p>\n <img src=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics/website-screenshot-styled.png\" alt=\"A Mozilla logo and some paragraphs. The paragraph text has been styled red by our css.\" width=\"711\" height=\"832\" loading=\"lazy\">\n</p>\n<p>If your paragraph text is red, congratulations! Your CSS is working.</p>"}},{"type":"prose","value":{"id":"anatomy_of_a_css_ruleset","title":"Anatomy of a CSS ruleset","isH3":true,"content":"<p>Let's dissect the CSS code for red paragraph text to understand how it works:</p>\n<p>\n <img src=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics/css-declaration-small.png\" alt=\"CSS p declaration color red\" width=\"850\" height=\"480\" loading=\"lazy\">\n</p>\n<p>The whole structure is called a <strong>ruleset</strong>. (The term <em>ruleset</em> is often referred to as just <em>rule</em>.) Note the names of the individual parts:</p>\n<dl>\n <dt id=\"selector\"><a href=\"#selector\">Selector</a></dt>\n <dd>\n <p>This is the HTML element name at the start of the ruleset. It defines the element(s) to be styled (in this example, <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/p\"><code><p></code></a> elements). To style a different element, change the selector.</p>\n </dd>\n <dt id=\"declaration\"><a href=\"#declaration\">Declaration</a></dt>\n <dd>\n <p>This is a single rule like <code>color: red;</code>. It specifies which of the element's <strong>properties</strong> you want to style.</p>\n </dd>\n <dt id=\"properties\"><a href=\"#properties\">Properties</a></dt>\n <dd>\n <p>These are ways in which you can style an HTML element. (In this example, <code>color</code> is a property of the <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/p\"><code><p></code></a> elements.) In CSS, you choose which properties you want to affect in the rule.</p>\n </dd>\n <dt id=\"property_value\"><a href=\"#property_value\">Property value</a></dt>\n <dd>\n <p>To the right of the property—after the colon—there is the <strong>property value</strong>. This chooses one out of many possible appearances for a given property. (For example, there are many <code>color</code> values in addition to <code>red</code>.)</p>\n </dd>\n</dl>\n<p>Note the other important parts of the syntax:</p>\n<ul>\n <li>Apart from the selector, each ruleset must be wrapped in curly braces. (<code>{}</code>)</li>\n <li>Within each declaration, you must use a colon (<code>:</code>) to separate the property from its value or values.</li>\n <li>Within each ruleset, you must use a semicolon (<code>;</code>) to separate each declaration from the next one.</li>\n</ul>\n<p>To modify multiple property values in one ruleset, write them separated by semicolons, like this:</p>\n<div class=\"code-example\"><div class=\"example-header\"><span class=\"language-name\">css</span></div><pre class=\"brush: css notranslate\"><code>p {\n color: red;\n width: 500px;\n border: 1px solid black;\n}\n</code></pre></div>"}},{"type":"prose","value":{"id":"selecting_multiple_elements","title":"Selecting multiple elements","isH3":true,"content":"<p>You can also select multiple elements and apply a single ruleset to all of them. Separate multiple selectors by commas. For example:</p>\n<div class=\"code-example\"><div class=\"example-header\"><span class=\"language-name\">css</span></div><pre class=\"brush: css notranslate\"><code>p,\nli,\nh1 {\n color: red;\n}\n</code></pre></div>"}},{"type":"prose","value":{"id":"different_types_of_selectors","title":"Different types of selectors","isH3":true,"content":"<p>There are many different types of selectors. The examples above use <strong>element selectors</strong>, which select all elements of a given type. But we can make more specific selections as well. Here are some of the more common types of selectors:</p>\n<figure class=\"table-container\"><table class=\"standard-table no-markdown\">\n <thead>\n <tr>\n <th scope=\"col\">Selector name</th>\n <th scope=\"col\">What does it select</th>\n <th scope=\"col\">Example</th>\n </tr>\n </thead>\n <tbody>\n <tr>\n <td>Element selector (sometimes called a tag or type selector)</td>\n <td>All HTML elements of the specified type.</td>\n <td><code>p</code><br>selects <code><p></code></td>\n </tr>\n <tr>\n <td>ID selector</td>\n <td>\n The element on the page with the specified ID. On a given HTML page,\n each id value should be unique.\n </td>\n <td>\n <code>#my-id</code><br>selects <code><p id=\"my-id\"></code> or\n <code><a id=\"my-id\"></code>\n </td>\n </tr>\n <tr>\n <td>Class selector</td>\n <td>\n The element(s) on the page with the specified class. Multiple instances\n of the same class can appear on a page.\n </td>\n <td>\n <code>.my-class</code><br>selects\n <code><p class=\"my-class\"></code> and\n <code><a class=\"my-class\"></code>\n </td>\n </tr>\n <tr>\n <td>Attribute selector</td>\n <td>The element(s) on the page with the specified attribute.</td>\n <td>\n <code>img[src]</code><br>selects\n <code><img src=\"my-image.png\"></code> but not\n <code><img></code>\n </td>\n </tr>\n <tr>\n <td>Pseudo-class selector</td>\n <td>\n The specified element(s), but only when in the specified state. (For\n example, when a cursor hovers over a link.)\n </td>\n <td>\n <code>a:hover</code><br>selects <code><a></code>, but only when\n the mouse pointer is hovering over the link.\n </td>\n </tr>\n </tbody>\n</table></figure>\n<p>There are many more selectors to discover. To learn more, see the MDN <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Building_blocks/Selectors\">Selectors guide</a>.</p>"}},{"type":"prose","value":{"id":"fonts_and_text","title":"Fonts and text","isH3":false,"content":"<p>Now that we've explored some CSS fundamentals, let's improve the appearance of the example by adding more rules and information to the <code>style.css</code> file.</p>\n<ol>\n <li>\n <p>First, find the <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/What_will_your_website_look_like#font\">output from Google Fonts</a> that you previously saved from <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/What_will_your_website_look_like\">What will your website look like?</a>. Add the <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/link\"><code><link></code></a> element somewhere inside your <code>index.html</code>'s head (anywhere between the <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/head\"><code><head></code></a> and <code></head></code> tags). It looks something like this:</p>\n <div class=\"code-example\"><div class=\"example-header\"><span class=\"language-name\">html</span></div><pre class=\"brush: html notranslate\"><code><link\n href=\"https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Open+Sans\"\n rel=\"stylesheet\" />\n</code></pre></div>\n <p>This code links your page to a style sheet that loads the Open Sans font family with your webpage.</p>\n </li>\n <li>\n <p>Next, delete the existing rule you have in your <code>style.css</code> file. It was a good test, but let's not continue with lots of red text.</p>\n </li>\n <li>\n <p>Add the following lines (shown below), replacing the <code>font-family</code> assignment with your <code>font-family</code> selection from <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/What_will_your_website_look_like#font\">What will your website look like?</a>. The property <code>font-family</code> refers to the font(s) you want to use for text. This rule defines a global base font and font size for the whole page. Since <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/html\"><code><html></code></a> is the parent element of the whole page, all elements inside it inherit the same <code>font-size</code> and <code>font-family</code>.</p>\n <div class=\"code-example\"><div class=\"example-header\"><span class=\"language-name\">css</span></div><pre class=\"brush: css notranslate\"><code>html {\n font-size: 10px; /* px means \"pixels\": the base font size is now 10 pixels high */\n font-family: \"Open Sans\", sans-serif; /* this should be the rest of the output you got from Google Fonts */\n}\n</code></pre></div>\n <div class=\"notecard note\">\n <p><strong>Note:</strong> Anything in CSS between <code>/*</code> and <code>*/</code> is a <strong>CSS comment</strong>. The browser ignores comments as it renders the code. CSS comments are a way for you to write helpful notes about your code or logic.</p>\n </div>\n </li>\n <li>\n <p>Now let's set font sizes for elements that will have text inside the HTML body (<a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/Heading_Elements\"><h1></a>, <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/li\"><code><li></code></a>, and <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/p\"><code><p></code></a>). We'll also center the heading. Finally, let's expand the second ruleset (below) with settings for line height and letter spacing to make body content more readable.</p>\n <div class=\"code-example\"><div class=\"example-header\"><span class=\"language-name\">css</span></div><pre class=\"brush: css notranslate\"><code>h1 {\n font-size: 60px;\n text-align: center;\n}\n\np,\nli {\n font-size: 16px;\n line-height: 2;\n letter-spacing: 1px;\n}\n</code></pre></div>\n </li>\n</ol>\n<p>Adjust the <code>px</code> values as you like. Your work-in-progress should look similar to this:</p>\n<p>\n <img src=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics/website-screenshot-font-small.png\" alt=\"A Mozilla logo and some paragraphs. A sans-serif font has been set, the font sizes, line height and letter spacing are adjusted, and the main page heading has been centered\" width=\"921\" height=\"1020\" loading=\"lazy\">\n</p>"}},{"type":"prose","value":{"id":"css_all_about_boxes","title":"CSS: all about boxes","isH3":false,"content":"<p>Something you'll notice about writing CSS: a lot of it is about boxes. This includes setting size, color, and position. Most HTML elements on your page can be thought of as boxes sitting on top of other boxes.</p>\n<p>\n <img src=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics/boxes.jpg\" alt=\"A big stack of boxes or crates sat on top of one another\" width=\"640\" height=\"463\" loading=\"lazy\">\n</p>\n<p>Photo from <a href=\"https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3418115\" class=\"external\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3418115</a> Copyright © <a href=\"https://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/26362\" class=\"external\" target=\"_blank\">Jim Barton</a> <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/\" class=\"external\" target=\"_blank\">cc-by-sa/2.0</a></p>\n<p>CSS layout is mostly based on the <em>box model.</em> Each box taking up space on your page has properties like:</p>\n<ul>\n <li><code>padding</code>, the space around the content. In the example below, it is the space around the paragraph text.</li>\n <li><code>border</code>, the solid line that is just outside the padding.</li>\n <li><code>margin</code>, the space around the outside of the border.</li>\n</ul>\n<p>\n <img src=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics/box-model.png\" alt=\"Three boxes sat inside one another. From outside to in they are labelled margin, border and padding\" width=\"574\" height=\"450\" loading=\"lazy\">\n</p>\n<p>In this section we also use:</p>\n<ul>\n <li><code>width</code> (of an element).</li>\n <li><code>background-color</code>, the color behind an element's content and padding.</li>\n <li><code>color</code>, the color of an element's content (usually text).</li>\n <li><code>text-shadow</code> sets a drop shadow on the text inside an element.</li>\n <li><code>display</code> sets the display mode of an element. (keep reading to learn more)</li>\n</ul>\n<p>To continue, let's add more CSS. Keep adding these new rules at the bottom of <code>style.css</code>. Experiment with changing values to see what happens.</p>"}},{"type":"prose","value":{"id":"changing_the_page_color","title":"Changing the page color","isH3":true,"content":"<div class=\"code-example\"><div class=\"example-header\"><span class=\"language-name\">css</span></div><pre class=\"brush: css notranslate\"><code>html {\n background-color: #00539f;\n}\n</code></pre></div>\n<p>This rule sets a background color for the entire page. Change the color code to <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/What_will_your_website_look_like#theme_color\">the color you chose in What will my website look like?</a>.</p>"}},{"type":"prose","value":{"id":"styling_the_body","title":"Styling the body","isH3":true,"content":"<div class=\"code-example\"><div class=\"example-header\"><span class=\"language-name\">css</span></div><pre class=\"brush: css notranslate\"><code>body {\n width: 600px;\n margin: 0 auto;\n background-color: #ff9500;\n padding: 0 20px 20px 20px;\n border: 5px solid black;\n}\n</code></pre></div>\n<p>There are several declarations for the <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/body\"><code><body></code></a> element. Let's go through these line-by-line:</p>\n<ul>\n <li><code>width: 600px;</code> This forces the body to always be 600 pixels wide.</li>\n <li><code>margin: 0 auto;</code> When you set two values on a property like <code>margin</code> or <code>padding</code>, the first value affects the element's top <em>and</em> bottom side (setting it to <code>0</code> in this case); the second value affects the left <em>and</em> right side. (Here, <code>auto</code> is a special value that divides the available horizontal space evenly between left and right). You can also use one, two, three, or four values, as documented in <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/margin#syntax\">Margin Syntax</a>.</li>\n <li><code>background-color: #FF9500;</code> This sets the element's background color. This project uses a reddish orange for the body background color, as opposed to dark blue for the <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/html\"><code><html></code></a> element. (Feel free to experiment.)</li>\n <li><code>padding: 0 20px 20px 20px;</code> This sets four values for padding. The goal is to put some space around the content. In this example, there is no padding on the top of the body, and 20 pixels on the right, bottom and left. The values set top, right, bottom, left, in that order. As with <code>margin</code>, you can use one, two, three, or four values, as documented in <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/padding#syntax\">Padding Syntax</a>.</li>\n <li><code>border: 5px solid black;</code> This sets values for the width, style and color of the border. In this case, it's a five-pixel–wide, solid black border, on all sides of the body.</li>\n</ul>"}},{"type":"prose","value":{"id":"positioning_and_styling_the_main_page_title","title":"Positioning and styling the main page title","isH3":true,"content":"<div class=\"code-example\"><div class=\"example-header\"><span class=\"language-name\">css</span></div><pre class=\"brush: css notranslate\"><code>h1 {\n margin: 0;\n padding: 20px 0;\n color: #00539f;\n text-shadow: 3px 3px 1px black;\n}\n</code></pre></div>\n<p>You may have noticed there's a horrible gap at the top of the body. That happens because browsers apply default styling to the <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/Heading_Elements\">h1</a> element (among others). That might seem like a bad idea, but the intent is to provide basic readability for unstyled pages. To eliminate the gap, we overwrite the browser's default styling with the setting <code>margin: 0;</code>.</p>\n<p>Next, we set the heading's top and bottom padding to 20 pixels.</p>\n<p>Following that, we set the heading text to be the same color as the HTML background color.</p>\n<p>Finally, <code>text-shadow</code> applies a shadow to the text content of the element. Its four values are:</p>\n<ul>\n <li>The first pixel value sets the <strong>horizontal offset</strong> of the shadow from the text: how far it moves across.</li>\n <li>The second pixel value sets the <strong>vertical offset</strong> of the shadow from the text: how far it moves down.</li>\n <li>The third pixel value sets the <strong>blur radius</strong> of the shadow. A larger value produces a more fuzzy-looking shadow.</li>\n <li>The fourth value sets the base color of the shadow.</li>\n</ul>\n<p>Try experimenting with different values to see how it changes the appearance.</p>"}},{"type":"prose","value":{"id":"centering_the_image","title":"Centering the image","isH3":true,"content":"<div class=\"code-example\"><div class=\"example-header\"><span class=\"language-name\">css</span></div><pre class=\"brush: css notranslate\"><code>img {\n display: block;\n margin: 0 auto;\n}\n</code></pre></div>\n<p>Next, we center the image to make it look better. We could use the <code>margin: 0 auto</code> trick again as we did for the body. But there are differences that require an additional setting to make the CSS work.</p>\n<p>The <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/body\"><code><body></code></a> is a <strong>block</strong> element, meaning it takes up space on the page. The margin applied to a block element will be respected by other elements on the page. In contrast, images are <strong>inline</strong> elements, for the auto margin trick to work on this image, we must give it block-level behavior using <code>display: block;</code>.</p>\n<div class=\"notecard note\">\n <p><strong>Note:</strong> The instructions above assume that you're using an image smaller than the width set on the body. (600 pixels) If your image is larger, it will overflow the body, spilling into the rest of the page. To fix this, you can either: 1) reduce the image width using a <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raster_graphics_editor\" class=\"external\" target=\"_blank\">graphics editor</a>, or 2) use CSS to size the image by setting the <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/width\"><code>width</code></a> property on the <code><img></code> element with a smaller value.</p>\n</div>\n<div class=\"notecard note\">\n <p><strong>Note:</strong> Don't be too concerned if you don't completely understand <code>display: block;</code> or the differences between a block element and an inline element. It will make more sense as you continue your study of CSS. You can find more information about different display values on MDN's <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/display\">display reference page</a>.</p>\n</div>"}},{"type":"prose","value":{"id":"conclusion","title":"Conclusion","isH3":false,"content":"<p>If you followed all the instructions in this article, you should have a page that looks similar to this one:</p>\n<p>\n <img src=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics/website-screenshot-final.png\" alt=\"A Mozilla logo, centered, and a header and paragraphs. It now looks nicely styled, with a blue background for the whole page and orange background for the centered main content strip.\" width=\"940\" height=\"1084\" loading=\"lazy\">\n</p>\n<p>(You can <a href=\"https://mdn.github.io/beginner-html-site-styled/\" class=\"external\" target=\"_blank\">view our version here</a>.) If you get stuck, you can always compare your work with our <a href=\"https://github.com/mdn/beginner-html-site-styled/blob/gh-pages/styles/style.css\" class=\"external\" target=\"_blank\">finished example code on GitHub</a>.</p>\n<p>In this exercise, we have just scratched the surface of CSS. To go further, see <a href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS\">Learning to style HTML using CSS</a>.</p><ul class=\"prev-next\">\n <li><a class=\"button secondary\" href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/HTML_basics\"><span class=\"button-wrap\"> Previous </span></a></li>\n <li><a class=\"button secondary\" href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web\"><span class=\"button-wrap\"> Overview: Getting started with the web</span></a></li>\n <li><a class=\"button secondary\" href=\"/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/JavaScript_basics\"><span class=\"button-wrap\"> Next </span></a></li>\n</ul>"}}],"toc":[{"text":"What is CSS?","id":"what_is_css"},{"text":"Fonts and text","id":"fonts_and_text"},{"text":"CSS: all about boxes","id":"css_all_about_boxes"},{"text":"Conclusion","id":"conclusion"}],"summary":"CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is the code that styles web content. CSS basics walks through what you need to get started. We'll answer questions like: How do I make text red? How do I make content display at a certain location in the (webpage) layout? How do I decorate my webpage with background images and colors?","popularity":0.1937,"modified":"2024-10-25T00:08:46.000Z","other_translations":[{"locale":"de","title":"CSS-Grundlagen","native":"Deutsch"},{"locale":"es","title":"CSS básico","native":"Español"},{"locale":"fr","title":"Les bases des CSS","native":"Français"},{"locale":"ja","title":"CSS の基本","native":"日本語"},{"locale":"ko","title":"CSS 기초","native":"한국어"},{"locale":"pt-BR","title":"CSS básico","native":"Português (do Brasil)"},{"locale":"ru","title":"Основы CSS","native":"Русский"},{"locale":"zh-CN","title":"CSS 基础","native":"中文 (简体)"},{"locale":"zh-TW","title":"CSS 基本","native":"正體中文 (繁體)"}],"pageType":"learn-module-chapter","source":{"folder":"en-us/learn/getting_started_with_the_web/css_basics","github_url":"https://github.com/mdn/content/blob/main/files/en-us/learn/getting_started_with_the_web/css_basics/index.md","last_commit_url":"https://github.com/mdn/content/commit/baac7f2a43813a7930ff97b11d9c38b413f97c78","filename":"index.md"},"short_title":"CSS basics","parents":[{"uri":"/en-US/docs/Learn","title":"Guides"},{"uri":"/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web","title":"Getting started with the web"},{"uri":"/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics","title":"CSS basics"}],"pageTitle":"CSS basics - Learn web development | MDN","noIndexing":false}}</script></body></html>