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CSS Basics — Detailed Definitions with Clear Examples (English)ic

By admin

17/February/2026 , 2:55 AM

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is the language used to style and visually format web pages.
It controls how HTML elements look on screen — including colors, fonts, spacing, layout, and responsiveness.


What is CSS — Detailed Definition

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is a stylesheet language that describes the presentation and layout of HTML documents. It allows developers to separate content (HTML) from design (CSS), making websites visually appealing, consistent, and responsive across devices.

👉 In simple words:
HTML = structure
CSS = appearance

Without CSS → websites look plain
With CSS → websites look professional


Example — HTML without CSS

<h1>Hello World</h1>
<p>This is my website</p>

Output:

Hello World

This is my website


Example — HTML with CSS

<h1 style="color: blue; font-size: 40px;">Hello World</h1>
<p style="color: gray;">This is my website</p>

Now the text has styling.

Hello World

This is my website


CSS Syntax — Detailed Definition

CSS syntax defines how styles are written and applied to HTML elements.
Each CSS rule consists of a selector and a declaration block.

Structure

selector {
  property: value;
}

Parts Explained

  • Selector → target HTML element
  • Property → style aspect to change
  • Value → how it should appear

Example

h1 {
  color: red;
  font-size: 40px;
}

Meaning:

  • All <h1> elements → red color
  • Font size → 40px

Multiple Declarations Example

p {
  color: #444;
  font-size: 18px;
  line-height: 1.6;
}

CSS Comments — Detailed Definition

CSS comments are non-executed notes inside CSS code used to explain styles, organize sections, or document decisions. Browsers ignore comments completely.

Syntax

/* comment text */

Example

/* Main page background */
body {
  background-color: #f4f6f8;
}

/* Heading style */
h1 {
  color: #2c3e50;
}

👉 Comments help with:

  • code readability
  • teamwork
  • maintenance

CSS Colors — Detailed Definition

CSS colors define the visual color appearance of elements on a webpage, including:

  • Text color
  • Background color
  • Borders
  • Shadows
  • Gradients
  • SVG graphics

CSS supports multiple color formats so developers can choose the most suitable representation for design, readability, and dynamic styling.


1. Named Colors

Definition

Named colors are predefined color keywords provided by CSS. Instead of numeric values, you simply write the color name.

CSS supports more than 140 standard color names such as red, blue, green, black, white, coral, tomato.

They are the simplest and most readable way to apply colors.

Example

h1 {
  color: red;
}

Explanation

red is a predefined CSS color keyword.
The browser internally converts it to the RGB value (255, 0, 0).

When to Use

  • Quick styling
  • Prototypes
  • Simple designs
  • Readable CSS

2. HEX Colors

Definition

HEX colors represent colors using hexadecimal (base-16) values that define RGB intensity.

Format:

#RRGGBB

Where:

  • RR → Red (00–FF)
  • GG → Green (00–FF)
  • BB → Blue (00–FF)

Range:

00 = 0
FF = 255

Example

h1 {
  color: #ff0000;
}

Explanation

  • ff = 255 red
  • 00 = 0 green
  • 00 = 0 blue
    This produces pure red.

Short HEX

If pairs repeat, you can shorten:

#ff0000 → #f00
#ffffff → #fff

When to Use

  • Web design systems
  • Brand colors
  • Consistent theming
  • UI development

3. RGB Colors

Definition

RGB colors define color using numeric intensity of Red, Green, and Blue channels.

Format:

rgb(red, green, blue)

Range:

0–255

Example

h1 {
  color: rgb(255, 0, 0);
}

Explanation

  • Red = 255
  • Green = 0
  • Blue = 0
    This produces pure red.

Advantage

RGB allows dynamic manipulation in JavaScript:

element.style.color = "rgb(" + r + "," + g + "," + b + ")";

When to Use

  • Animations
  • JavaScript color changes
  • Dynamic UI
  • Canvas and SVG graphics

4. RGBA Colors (Transparency)

Definition

RGBA extends RGB by adding an alpha channel that controls transparency (opacity).

Format:

rgba(red, green, blue, alpha)

Alpha range:

0 → fully transparent
1 → fully visible

Example

h1 {
  color: rgba(255, 0, 0, 0.5);
}

Explanation

  • Red = 255
  • Green = 0
  • Blue = 0
  • Opacity = 0.5 (50% transparent)

Real Use Cases

  • Glassmorphism UI
  • Overlays
  • Shadows
  • Hover effects

Example:

.card {
  background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.2);
}

5. HSL Colors

Definition

HSL represents color using human-perception attributes:

  • Hue (color type)
  • Saturation (intensity)
  • Lightness (brightness)

Format:

hsl(hue, saturation, lightness)

Components

Hue (0–360°)

Color wheel angle:

  • 0 → Red
  • 120 → Green
  • 240 → Blue

Saturation (0–100%)

Color intensity:

  • 0% → Gray
  • 100% → Pure color

Lightness (0–100%)

Brightness:

  • 0% → Black
  • 50% → Normal
  • 100% → White

Example

h1 {
  color: hsl(0, 100%, 50%);
}

Explanation

  • Hue = 0 → Red
  • Saturation = 100% → Full color
  • Lightness = 50% → Normal brightness
    This produces pure red.

Why HSL is Powerful

HSL makes color adjustments easier.

Increase brightness:

h1 {
  color: hsl(0, 100%, 70%);
}

Change color tone:

h1 {
  color: hsl(200, 100%, 50%);
}

Real Example — Button Colors

CSS

button {
  background-color: #007bff;
  color: white;
  border: none;
  padding: 10px 20px;
  border-radius: 6px;
}

Explanation

  • #007bff → blue background
  • white → text color
  • border: none → no border

Comparison Table

FormatTransparencyHuman FriendlyCommon Use
NamedNoYesSimple CSS
HEXNoModerateUI design
RGBNoModerateJavaScript and graphics
RGBAYesModerateOverlays
HSLNoYesTheming

Key Takeaways

  • CSS supports multiple color systems.
  • All formats represent the same colors.
  • Choose format based on readability and use case.
  • RGBA and HSL are widely used in modern UI design.

CSS Units – Detailed Definition with Real-World Examples

CSS Units Kya Hote Hain?

CSS me jab hum kisi element ka size, spacing, ya position define karte hain, to hume measurement ki zarurat hoti hai.
Isi measurement ko CSS Unit kehte hain.

👉 Simple definition:
CSS Unit = CSS property ki value ka measurement system

Example:

p {
  margin: 20px;
}

Yahan:

  • 20 = value
  • px = unit

Matlab paragraph ke bahar 20-pixel ka space hoga.


CSS Units ke Types

CSS units 2 main categories me hote hain:

  1. Absolute Units (fixed size)
  2. Relative Units (context ke hisab se change)

1. Absolute Units – Detailed Definition

Absolute units wo hote hain jo screen ya parent size se independent hote hain.
Ye fixed measurement dete hain.

Common absolute units:

  • px (pixel)
  • pt (point)
  • in (inch)
  • cm (centimeter)

px (Pixel) – Detailed Definition

Pixel screen ka sabse chhota visible dot hota hai.

CSS me:

1px = 1/96 inch

👉 px ka size fixed hota hai.


Real-World Example 1 (Website Button)

.button {
  width: 120px;
  height: 40px;
  background: blue;
  color: white;
}

Real world me:

  • Button ka size har device par same dikhega
  • Mobile, laptop, desktop sab me same width

Use case:

  • Buttons
  • Icons
  • Borders

Real-World Example 2 (Profile Image)

.profile {
  width: 150px;
  height: 150px;
  border-radius: 50%;
}

Real life:

  • Instagram-style circular profile image
  • Exact circle required → px best

2. Relative Units – Detailed Definition

Relative units wo hote hain jo parent, font size, ya screen size ke according change hote hain.

👉 Responsive design ke liye important

Relative units types:

  • em
  • rem
  • %
  • vw
  • vh

em – Detailed Definition

em current element ke font size ke relative hota hai.

Rule:

1em = current font size

Real-World Example 1 (Card Padding)

.card {
  font-size: 16px;
  padding: 2em;
}

Calculation:

1em = 16px
2em = 32px

Matlab:

  • Text bada hoga → padding bhi badhegi
  • Design proportional rahega

Real use:

  • Cards
  • Buttons
  • Components

Real-World Example 2 (Button with scalable spacing)

.button {
  font-size: 18px;
  padding: 0.5em 1em;
}

If font increases → button spacing bhi increase


rem – Detailed Definition

rem root element (html) ke font size ke relative hota hai.

Default:

html = 16px
1rem = 16px

Real-World Example 1 (Website Typography)

html {
  font-size: 16px;
}

h1 {
  font-size: 2rem;
}

p {
  font-size: 1rem;
}

Result:

  • h1 = 32px
  • p = 16px

Agar root font change:

html { font-size: 18px; }

Sab text automatically scale.

Real-World Example 2 (Spacing System)

.section {
  margin: 3rem 0;
}

Spacing pure website me consistent.

% (Percentage) – Detailed Definition

% parent element ke size ke relative hota hai.

Rule:

child size = parent size ka %

Real-World Example 1 (Responsive Container)

.container {
  width: 80%;
}

If screen width:

  • 1200px → 960px
  • 800px → 640px

Layout automatically adjust.

Real-World Example 2 (Two Columns)

.left {
  width: 50%;
  float: left;
}

.right {
  width: 50%;
  float: right;
}

Real life:

  • 2 equal columns
  • Screen size change → columns adapt

vw – Detailed Definition

vw = viewport width ka percentage

1vw = screen width ka 1%

Real-World Example 1 (Full width section)

.banner {
  width: 100vw;
}

Always full screen width.

Real-World Example 2 (Responsive Heading)

h1 {
  font-size: 5vw;
}

Screen:

  • 1200px → 60px
  • 600px → 30px

Text automatically scale.

vh – Detailed Definition

vh = viewport height ka %

1vh = screen height ka 1%

Real-World Example 1 (Hero Section)

.hero {
  height: 100vh;
}

Full screen section.

Real-World Example 2 (Center Layout)

.center-box {
  margin-top: 30vh;
}

Element vertical center ke paas.

Unitless Values – Detailed Definition

Kuch CSS properties me unit nahi lagta.

Example:

p {
  line-height: 1.6;
}

Meaning:

line height = 1.6 × font size

Real-World Combined Example (Complete Website Section)

html {
  font-size: 16px;
}

.container {
  width: 90%;
  max-width: 1100px;
  margin: 3rem auto;
}

.card {
  padding: 2rem;
  margin-bottom: 2rem;
  border-radius: 10px;
}

.card h2 {
  font-size: 1.5rem;
}

.card p {
  font-size: 1rem;
  line-height: 1.6;
}

.button {
  padding: 0.6em 1.2em;
  font-size: 1rem;
}

Is Example Me Units Ka Real Use

UnitWhereWhy
%container widthresponsive
pxmax-widthlimit
remspacingscalable
embutton paddingproportional
unitlessline-heightreadable

Best Practice (Real Web Design Rule)

Modern websites use:

  • rem → fonts & spacing
  • % → layout
  • vw/vh → hero & fluid text
  • px → borders/icons

Final Easy Summary

CSS units decide size behavior.

  • px → fixed
  • rem → root based
  • em → element based
  • % → parent based
  • vw/vh → screen based

Responsive design = mix of units.

DkSingh

DkSingh

Tech Consultant & Educator

DkSingh is a premier digital hub for tech news, pro-level coding tutorials, and innovative learning resources. We empower developers and tech enthusiasts to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving digital landscape through expert insights and structured educational content.

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