CSS Architecture
Table of Contents
Overview
Build maintainable CSS systems using methodologies like BEM (Block Element Modifier), SMACSS, and CSS-in-JS patterns with proper organization and conventions.
When to Use
- Large-scale stylesheets
- Component-based styling
- Design system development
- Multiple team collaboration
- CSS scalability and reusability
Quick Start
Minimal working example:
/* Block - standalone component */
.button {
display: inline-block;
padding: 10px 20px;
border: none;
border-radius: 4px;
cursor: pointer;
font-size: 16px;
transition: all 0.3s ease;
}
/* Element - component part */
.button__icon {
margin-right: 8px;
vertical-align: middle;
}
/* Modifier - variant */
.button--primary {
background-color: #007bff;
color: white;
}
.button--primary:hover {
background-color: #0056b3;
// ... (see reference guides for full implementation)Reference Guides
Detailed implementations in the references/ directory:
| Guide | Contents |
|---|---|
| BEM (Block Element Modifier) Pattern | BEM (Block Element Modifier) Pattern |
| SMACSS (Scalable and Modular Architecture for CSS) | SMACSS (Scalable and Modular Architecture for CSS) |
| CSS-in-JS with Styled Components | CSS-in-JS with Styled Components |
| CSS Variables (Custom Properties) | CSS Variables (Custom Properties) |
| Utility-First CSS (Tailwind Pattern) | Utility-First CSS (Tailwind Pattern) |
Best Practices
✅ DO
- Follow established patterns and conventions
- Write clean, maintainable code
- Add appropriate documentation
- Test thoroughly before deploying
❌ DON'T
- Skip testing or validation
- Ignore error handling
- Hard-code configuration values