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Website Updates for 2023: CSS Features

February 1, 2023

written by
Chantel Keith

The CSS Features You Should Consider Implementing Now

The first version of CSS was introduced in 1996 with the intention to standardize design on the world wide web. CSS, which stands for Cascading Style Sheets, has since become the most widely used method for styling web documents due to its widespread browser support and simplicity. It is now used by almost 97% of all websites and has become a staple in the front-end developers toolkit.

Since its inception, CSS has released three levels: CSS1, CSS2 and CSS3. The latest level adopted a modular approach, phasing out level 4 and focusing on versioning individual CSS modules instead, such as Flexible Box Layout and Grid Layout. Today, CSS continues to evolve with frequent new feature releases.

Here are a few exciting CSS features to consider implementing on your websites now.

1. Position: Sticky

The position: sticky CSS property is used to position an element as “fixed” within the document, but only when the element is within the viewport and the user scrolls to that position. Once the element reaches a certain point within the viewport, it will “stick” to that position and remain fixed until the user scrolls it out of view. This can be quite useful when building headers, sidebars, or other elements that remain visible as the user scrolls. Prior to the advent of position: sticky, a combination of several lines of Javascript and CSS was needed to accomplish this same functionality.

2. Flexbox

Flexbox, or Flexible Box Layout, is a powerful CSS tool that has been around for some time, but it remains an essential tool for web developers. It’s versatile enough to be used in nearly every component or layout, from creating responsive grids to easily aligning text within a container. If you’re not yet familiar with Flexbox, it’s worth taking the time to learn to see the benefits it can bring to your development workflow.

3. :has()

The :has() pseudo-class is a relatively new selector and while it’s currently not fully supported by all browsers, it has been highly anticipated by developers. It solves a common problem when it comes to styling parent elements based on the presence of a descendant element. Without the :has() pseudo-class, developers would have to create additional classes or use JavaScript to select the parent element. With this pseudo-class, it’s possible to style the parent element directly based on the presence of a child element, which can simplify your code and make it easier to maintain. It’s worth keeping an eye on this feature and considering how it could be used in your projects to improve your code once fully supported.

Overall, 2023 is set to be an exciting year for CSS, with several new and more widely supported features that will make it easier to create modern, user-friendly websites. Be sure to stay up to date with the latest features and capabilities of CSS to help streamline your workflow while greatly enhancing the design and functionality of your websites.