In this blog post, we'll take a detailed look at each of these benefits, and see how using a CSS preprocessor can help make your life as a web developer easier.
What is a CSS preprocessor?
A CSS preprocessor is a program that lets you generate CSS from the preprocessor's own unique syntax. There are many different CSS preprocessors available, such as Less, Sass, and PostCSS. Each preprocessor has its own syntax and features. For example, Less has features such as variables and mix-ins, while Sass has features such as nesting and partials.
What are the benefits of using a CSS preprocessor?
There are many benefits to using a CSS preprocessor. One benefit is convenience. With a CSS preprocessor, you can write your CSS in the preprocessor's syntax which can be more convenient than writing plain CSS. Another benefit is efficiency. A CSS preprocessor can help you be more efficient in your CSS development by allowing you to use features such as variables and mix-ins.
CSS preprocessors can also be used to improve the organization of CSS code. They can help to keep code DRY (Don't Repeat Yourself) by allowing the reuse of code snippets. Preprocessors can also help to make code more readable by adding comments and using variables.
CSS preprocessors can help with cross browser compatibility issues by providing a way to test code in different browsers. Preprocessors can also automate vendor prefixes for CSS properties.
Time saving features
One of the biggest benefits of using a CSS preprocessor is the time saving features it offers. For example, you can use mix-ins to create groups of CSS declarations that you can reuse throughout your stylesheet. This is especially handy when you want to apply a certain style to multiple elements.
Nesting is another time saving feature offered by some preprocessors. This lets you write your CSS in a more structured way, which can be easier to read and maintain.
The ability to use features that are not yet supported by all browsers
Another great benefit of using a CSS preprocessor is that it gives you the ability to use features that are not yet supported by all browsers. For example, with Sass you can use the parent selector, which is not yet supported by all browsers.
This means that you can write your CSS using these new features, and the preprocessor will take care of making sure that the correct code is generated for older browsers that don't support them.
This feature is similar to JS and TS transpilation, which lets you use the latest JS features even if they are unsupported in all browsers.
A large community of users and developers
Finally, another big advantage of using a CSS preprocessor is the large community of users and developers who can offer support and advice. If you're ever stuck or need help with something, chances are there's someone out there who can help you.
Preprocessors such as Sass and Less have been around for many years, and have been used on some big projects by some very experienced developers. This means there's a wealth of knowledge and experience to draw from if you ever need it.
There's no doubt that CSS preprocessors have a lot of benefits. They can make your code more maintainable and easier to read, help you use CSS features that are not yet supported by all browsers, and make it easier to share code between projects. However, at the end of the day, it's up to you whether or not you want to use a CSS preprocessor. If you're happy with the way your CSS is currently written, there's no need to switch things up. But if you're looking for a way to make your CSS development workflow easier, a preprocessor may be worth considering.
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Top comments (1)
I've only recently tried SCSS - mostly for trigonometic functions and for-loops - and it made the code so much neater. Though I will say the math syntax is still a bit annoying, 9 out of 10 times I type in its PHP equivalent. Also, there is no uniformity across code editors as far as the division syntax goes: VSCode will insist on math.div(), reserving the classic / for calcs only - and Codepen accepts / only (last I checked, at least). I wonder how other preprocessors handle these things. I just want to type Less ;)
Another game-changer is trigonometric functions becoming a part of the vanilla CSS syntax: sin(), cos(), tan() etc. are supported in Safari and Firefox, and Safari also does sqrt(), pow() and hypot().
And speaking of preprocessors, I absolutely love Pug, the HTML preprocessor - the functionality, and also the indentation-based nesting (which is why I'd like to transition from SCSS to Sass proper)