Chapter 2: Cascading Style Sheet Internet Programming By: Lecturer Abebe A. (MSc.

In Computer Science)

Chapter II
Cascading Style Sheet
What is CSS?
 CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheets
 CSS describes how HTML elements are to be displayed on screen, paper, or in other media
 CSS is the language we use to style a Web page.
 CSS saves a lot of work. It can control the layout of multiple web pages all at once
 External stylesheets are stored in CSS files
CSS Syntax

The selector points to the HTML element you want to style.

The declaration block contains one or more declarations separated by semicolons.
Each declaration includes a CSS property name and a value, separated by a colon.
Multiple CSS declarations are separated with semicolons, and declaration blocks are surrounded by curly
braces.
Example
In this example all <p> elements will be center-aligned, with a red text color:
p{
color: red;
text-align: center;
}

Example Explained
 p is a selector in CSS (it points to the HTML element you want to style: <p>).
 color is a property, and red is the property value
 text-align is a property, and center is the property value
CSS Selectors
A CSS selector selects the HTML element(s) you want to style.
CSS selectors are used to "find" (or select) the HTML elements you want to style.
We can divide CSS selectors into five categories:
 Simple selectors (select elements based on name, id, class)
 Combinator selectors (select elements based on a specific relationship between them)
 Pseudo-class selectors (select elements based on a certain state)
 Pseudo-elements selectors (select and style a part of an element)
 Attribute selectors (select elements based on an attribute or attribute value)
1. The CSS element Selector
The element selector selects HTML elements based on the element name.
Example
Here, all <p> elements on the page will be center-aligned, with a red text color:
p{
text-align: center;
color: red;
}

2. The CSS id Selector

The id selector uses the id attribute of an HTML element to select a specific element.
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Chapter 2: Cascading Style Sheet Internet Programming By: Lecturer Abebe A. (MSc. In Computer Science)

The id of an element is unique within a page, so the id selector is used to select one unique element!
To select an element with a specific id, write a hash (#) character, followed by the id of the element.
Example
The CSS rule below will be applied to the HTML element with id="para1":
#para1 {
text-align: center;
color: red;
}
3. The CSS class Selector
The class selector selects HTML elements with a specific class attribute.
To select elements with a specific class, write a period (.) character, followed by the class name.
Example
In this example all HTML elements with class="center" will be red and center-aligned:
.center {
text-align: center;
color: red;
}

4. The CSS Universal Selector

The universal selector (*) selects all HTML elements on the page.
Example
The CSS rule below will affect every HTML element on the page:
*{
text-align: center;
color: blue;
}

5. The CSS Grouping Selector

The grouping selector selects all the HTML elements with the same style definitions.
Look at the following CSS code (the h1, h2, and p elements have the same style definitions):
h1 {
text-align: center;
color: red;
}

h2 {
text-align: center;
color: red;
}

p{
text-align: center;
color: red;
}
It will be better to group the selectors, to minimize the code.
To group selectors, separate each selector with a comma.
Example
In this example we have grouped the selectors from the code above:
h1, h2, p {
text-align: center;
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Chapter 2: Cascading Style Sheet Internet Programming By: Lecturer Abebe A. (MSc. In Computer Science)

color: red;
}
All CSS Simple Selectors

How to Add CSS

When a browser reads a style sheet, it will format the HTML document according to the information
in the style sheet.
Three Ways to Insert CSS
There are three ways of inserting a style sheet:
 External CSS
 Internal CSS
 Inline CSS
External CSS
With an external style sheet, you can change the look of an entire website by changing just one file!
Each HTML page must include a reference to the external style sheet file inside the <link> element, inside
the head section.
Example
External styles are defined within the <link> element, inside the <head> section of an HTML page:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="mystyle.css">
</head>
<body>

<h1>This is a heading</h1>
<p>This is a paragraph.</p>

</body>
</html>
An external style sheet can be written in any text editor, and must be saved with a .css extension.
The external .css file should not contain any HTML tags.
Here is how the "mystyle.css" file looks:
"mystyle.css"
body {
background-color: lightblue;
}
h1 {
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Chapter 2: Cascading Style Sheet Internet Programming By: Lecturer Abebe A. (MSc. In Computer Science)

color: navy;
margin-left: 20px;
}
Internal CSS
An internal style sheet may be used if one single HTML page has a unique style.
The internal style is defined inside the <style> element, inside the head section.
Example
Internal styles are defined within the <style> element, inside the <head> section of an HTML page:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<style>
body {
background-color: linen;
}

h1 {
color: maroon;
margin-left: 40px;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>

<h1>This is a heading</h1>
<p>This is a paragraph.</p>

</body>
</html>
Inline CSS
An inline style may be used to apply a unique style for a single element.
To use inline styles, add the style attribute to the relevant element. The style attribute can contain any
CSS property.
Example
Inline styles are defined within the "style" attribute of the relevant element:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>
<h1 style="color:blue;text-align:center;">This is a heading</h1>
<p style="color:red;">This is a paragraph.</p>

</body>
</html>
Tip: An inline style loses many of the advantages of a style sheet (by mixing content with
presentation). Use this method sparingly.
Multiple Style Sheets
If some properties have been defined for the same selector (element) in different style sheets, the value
from the last read style sheet will be used.
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Chapter 2: Cascading Style Sheet Internet Programming By: Lecturer Abebe A. (MSc. In Computer Science)

Assume that an external style sheet has the following style for the <h1> element:
h1 {
color: navy;
}
Then, assume that an internal style sheet also has the following style for the <h1> element:
h1 {
color: orange;
}

Example
If the internal style is defined after the link to the external style sheet, the <h1> elements will be "orange":
<head>
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="mystyle.css">
<style>
h1 {
color: orange;
}
</style>
</head>
Example
However, if the internal style is defined before the link to the external style sheet, the <h1> elements will
be "navy":
<head>
<style>
h1 {
color: orange;
}
</style>
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="mystyle.css">
</head>
Cascading Order
What style will be used when there is more than one style specified for an HTML element?
All the styles in a page will "cascade" into a new "virtual" style sheet by the following rules, where
number one has the highest priority:
1. Inline style (inside an HTML element)
2. External and internal style sheets (in the head section)
3. Browser default
So, an inline style has the highest priority, and will override external and internal styles and browser
defaults.
CSS Comments
CSS comments are not displayed in the browser, but they can help document your source code.
Comments are used to explain the code, and may help when you edit the source code at a later date.
Comments are ignored by browsers.
A CSS comment is placed inside the <style> element, and starts with /* and ends with */:
Example
/* This is a single-line comment */
p{
color: red;
}
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Chapter 2: Cascading Style Sheet Internet Programming By: Lecturer Abebe A. (MSc. In Computer Science)

You can add comments wherever you want in the code:

Example
p{
color: red; /* Set text color to red */
}
Comments can also span multiple lines:
Example
/* This is
a multi-line
comment */
p{
color: red;
}
HTML and CSS Comments
From the HTML tutorial, you learned that you can add comments to your HTML source by using the
<!--...--> syntax.
In the following example, we use a combination of HTML and CSS comments:
Example
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<style>
p{
color: red; /* Set text color to red */
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<h2>My Heading</h2>
<!-- These paragraphs will be red -->
<p>Hello World!</p>
<p>This paragraph is styled with CSS.</p>
<p>CSS comments are not shown in the output.</p>
</body>
</html>

CSS Backgrounds
The CSS background properties are used to add background effects for elements.
In these chapters, you will learn about the following CSS background properties:
background-color
background-image
background-repeat
background-attachment
background-position
background (shorthand property)
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Chapter 2: Cascading Style Sheet Internet Programming By: Lecturer Abebe A. (MSc. In Computer Science)

CSS background-color
The background-color property specifies the background color of an element.
Example
The background color of a page is set like this:
body {
background-color: lightblue;
}

CSS Borders
The CSS border properties allow you to specify the style, width, and color of an element's border.
I have borders on all sides.
I have a red bottom border.
I have rounded borders.
I have a blue left border.
CSS Border Style
The border-style property specifies what kind of border to display.
The following values are allowed:
 dotted - Defines a dotted border
 dashed - Defines a dashed border
 solid - Defines a solid border
 double - Defines a double border
 groove - Defines a 3D grooved border. The effect depends on the border-color value
 ridge - Defines a 3D ridged border. The effect depends on the border-color value
 inset - Defines a 3D inset border. The effect depends on the border-color value
 outset - Defines a 3D outset border. The effect depends on the border-color value
 none - Defines no border
 hidden - Defines a hidden border
The border-style property can have from one to four values (for the top border, right border, bottom
border, and the left border).
Example
Demonstration of the different border styles:
p.dotted {border-style: dotted;}
p.dashed {border-style: dashed;}
p.solid {border-style: solid;}
p.double {border-style: double;}
p.groove {border-style: groove;}
p.ridge {border-style: ridge;}
p.inset {border-style: inset;}
p.outset {border-style: outset;}
p.none {border-style: none;}
p.hidden {border-style: hidden;}
p.mix {border-style: dotted dashed solid double;}
Result:

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Chapter 2: Cascading Style Sheet Internet Programming By: Lecturer Abebe A. (MSc. In Computer Science)

A dotted border.

A dashed border.

A solid border.

A double border.

A groove border. The effect depends on the border-color value.

A ridge border. The effect depends on the border-color value.

An inset border. The effect depends on the border-color value.

An outset border. The effect depends on the border-color value.

No border.

A hidden border.

A mixed border.

CSS Margins
Margins are used to create space around elements, outside of any defined borders.

This element has a margin of 70px.

CSS Margins
The CSS margin properties are used to create space around elements, outside of any defined borders.
With CSS, you have full control over the margins. There are properties for setting the margin for each side
of an element (top, right, bottom, and left).
Margin - Individual Sides
CSS has properties for specifying the margin for each side of an element:

 margin-top
 margin-right
 margin-bottom
 margin-left
All the margin properties can have the following values:
 length - specifies a margin in px, pt, cm, etc.
 % - specifies a margin in % of the width of the containing element
 inherit - specifies that the margin should be inherited from the parent element
Tip: Negative values are allowed.
Example

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Chapter 2: Cascading Style Sheet Internet Programming By: Lecturer Abebe A. (MSc. In Computer Science)

Set different margins for all four sides of a <p> element:

p{
margin-top: 100px;
margin-bottom: 100px;
margin-right: 150px;
margin-left: 80px;
}
Margin - Shorthand Property
To shorten the code, it is possible to specify all the margin properties in one property.
The margin property is a shorthand property for the following individual margin properties:
margin-top
margin-right
margin-bottom
margin-left
So, here is how it works:
If the margin property has four values:

 margin: 25px 50px 75px 100px;

o top margin is 25px
o right margin is 50px
o bottom margin is 75px
o left margin is 100px

Example
Use the margin shorthand property with four values:
p{
margin: 25px 50px 75px 100px;
}
If the margin property has three values:

 margin: 25px 50px 75px;

o top margin is 25px
o right and left margins are 50px
o bottom margin is 75px

Example
Use the margin shorthand property with three values:

p{
margin: 25px 50px 75px;
}
If the margin property has two values:
 margin: 25px 50px;
o top and bottom margins are 25px
o right and left margins are 50px
Example
Use the margin shorthand property with two values:

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Chapter 2: Cascading Style Sheet Internet Programming By: Lecturer Abebe A. (MSc. In Computer Science)

p{
margin: 25px 50px;
}
If the margin property has one value:

 margin: 25px;
o all four margins are 25px
Example
Use the margin shorthand property with one value:
p{
margin: 25px;
}
The auto Value
You can set the margin property to auto to horizontally center the element within its container.
The element will then take up the specified width, and the remaining space will be split equally between
the left and right margins.
Example
Use margin: auto:
div {
width: 300px;
margin: auto;
border: 1px solid red;
}
The inherit Value
This example lets the left margin of the <p class="ex1"> element be inherited from the parent element
(<div>):
Example
Use of the inherit value:
div {
border: 1px solid red;
margin-left: 100px;
}
p.ex1 {
margin-left: inherit;
}
CSS Padding
Padding is used to create space around an element's content, inside of any defined borders.
This element has a padding of 70px.
CSS Padding
The CSS padding properties are used to generate space around an element's content, inside of any
defined borders.
With CSS, you have full control over the padding. There are properties for setting the padding for
each side of an element (top, right, bottom, and left).
Padding - Individual Sides
CSS has properties for specifying the padding for each side of an element:
 padding-top
 padding-right
 padding-bottom

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Chapter 2: Cascading Style Sheet Internet Programming By: Lecturer Abebe A. (MSc. In Computer Science)

 padding-left
All the padding properties can have the following values:
 length - specifies a padding in px, pt, cm, etc.
 % - specifies a padding in % of the width of the containing element
 inherit - specifies that the padding should be inherited from the parent element
Note: Negative values are not allowed.
Example
Set different padding for all four sides of a <div> element:
div {
padding-top: 50px;
padding-right: 30px;
padding-bottom: 50px;
padding-left: 80px;
}
Padding - Shorthand Property
To shorten the code, it is possible to specify all the padding properties in one property.
The padding property is a shorthand property for the following individual padding properties:
 padding-right
 padding-bottom
 padding-left
So, here is how it works:
If the padding property has four values:
 padding: 25px 50px 75px 100px;
o top padding is 25px
o right padding is 50px
o bottom padding is 75px
o left padding is 100px

Example
Use the padding shorthand property with four values:
div {
padding: 25px 50px 75px 100px;
}
If the padding property has three values:
 padding: 25px 50px 75px;
o top padding is 25px
o right and left paddings are 50px
o bottom padding is 75px
Example
Use the padding shorthand property with three values:
div {
padding: 25px 50px 75px;
}
If the padding property has two values:
 padding: 25px 50px;
o top and bottom paddings are 25px
o right and left paddings are 50px
Example
Use the padding shorthand property with two values:
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Chapter 2: Cascading Style Sheet Internet Programming By: Lecturer Abebe A. (MSc. In Computer Science)

div {
padding: 25px 50px;
}
If the padding property has one value:
 padding: 25px;
o all four paddings are 25px
Example
Use the padding shorthand property with one value:
div {
padding: 25px;
}
Padding and Element Width
The CSS width property specifies the width of the element's content area. The content area is the
portion inside the padding, border, and margin of an element (the box model).
So, if an element has a specified width, the padding added to that element will be added to the total
width of the element. This is often an undesirable result.
Example
Here, the <div> element is given a width of 300px. However, the actual width of the <div> element
will be 350px (300px + 25px of left padding + 25px of right padding):
div {
width: 300px;
padding: 25px;
}
To keep the width at 300px, no matter the amount of padding, you can use the box-sizing property.
This causes the element to maintain its width; if you increase the padding, the available content space
will decrease.
Example
Use the box-sizing property to keep the width at 300px, no matter the amount of padding:
div{
width: 300px;
padding: 25px;
box-sizing: border-box;
}

All CSS Border Properties

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