CSS Introduction

How to Link External CSS to HTML?

Last Updated : 08 Oct, 2024

External CSS is a method used to style multiple HTML pages with a single stylesheet. This approach involves creating a separate CSS file with a .css extension that contains style properties applied to various selectors (such as classes, IDs, headings, etc.). By using external CSS, you can maintain a consistent design across multiple web pages efficiently.

How to Link an External CSS to HTML

To link an external CSS file to an HTML document, you need to use the <link> element within the <head> section of your HTML file. The <link> element should have the rel attribute set to "stylesheet" and the href attribute specifying the path to your CSS file.

Syntax:

To link an external CSS file to an HTML document, you need to use the <link> element within the <head> section of your HTML file. The <link> element should have the rel attribute set to "stylesheet" and the href attribute specifying the path to your CSS file.

<link rel="stylesheet" href="path/to/your/styles.css">

Example 1: In this example, we are using an external CSS style to provide styling to our div, h1, and p tags.

HTML

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>

<head>
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="geeks.css" />
</head>

<body>
    <div class="main">
        <h1 class="GFG">
            GeeksForGeeks
        </h1>
        <p id="geeks">
            A computer science portal for geeks
        </p>
    </div>
</body>

</html>

CSS

/* Geeks.css */
.main {
    text-align: center;
}

.GFG {
    font-size: 60px;
    color: green;
}

#geeks {
    font-size: 25px;
    color: skyblue;
};

Output:

chrome-capture-2023-6-26-(2)

Example 2: Here’s another example demonstrating how to use external CSS to style multiple HTML elements, such as creating card-like sections.

HTML

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">

<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <meta name="viewport" 
          content="width=device-width, 
                   initial-scale=1.0">
    <title>External CSS Example</title>
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="geeks.css">
</head>

<body>
    <h1>GeeksforGeeks</h1>
    <p>
        A computer science portal for geeks.
    </p>
    <div class="geeks">

        <h2>HTML</h2>
        <p>
            HTML stands for Hyper Text Markup Language.
        </p>
    </div>
    <div class="geeks">

        <h2>CSS</h2>
        <p>
            CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheet.
        </p>
    </div>
</body>

</html>

CSS

/* Geeks.css */
h1 {
    color: green;
    margin-bottom: 10px;
}

p {
    font-size: 18px;
    line-height: 1.6;
    margin-bottom: 30px;
}

.geeks {
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    align-items: center;
    padding: 20px;
    border: 2px solid black;
    border-radius: 10px;
    background-color: skyblue;
    margin-bottom: 10px;
    width: 20%;

}

.geeks h2 {
    color: green;
    font-size: 24px;
    margin-bottom: 10px;
}

.geeks p {
    text-align: center;
    font-size: 16px;
    color: black;
}

Output:
chrome-capture-2023-6-26-(4)

Advantages of External CSS

Improved Maintainability: Having styles in a separate file makes it easier to manage and update your styles without modifying each HTML document.
Enhanced Reusability: The same CSS file can be linked to multiple HTML files, promoting consistent design across your site.
Efficient Caching: Browsers cache external CSS files, leading to faster page load times on subsequent visits.

Disadvantages of External CSS

Loading Time: Pages may not render correctly until the external CSS file is fully loaded, potentially causing a flash of unstyled content (FOUC).
Performance Concerns: Linking multiple CSS files can increase download times, affecting overall site performance.
Versioning and Caching Challenges: Large-scale projects may encounter difficulties in versioning and caching, leading to inconsistencies in styles.

Linking external CSS to your HTML is a consistent and maintainable design across multiple web pages. By following the steps outlined above, you can easily apply external styles to your HTML documents and enhance the visual appeal of your website. For a seamless experience, ensure that your CSS files are correctly linked and optimized.

External CSS

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