When styling your webpages, you have two main approaches: vanilla CSS and styled libraries. Both have their strengths and weaknesses; the best choice depends on your project’s specific needs.
Vanilla CSS refers to using plain CSS code to style your elements.
Styled Libraries are frameworks or libraries that are built on top of vanilla CSS, offering features like:
Faster Development: Pre-built components and utility classes can save time and effort.
Easier Maintenance: Styled libraries often promote code organization and reusability.
Potential for Bloat: Libraries can add extra code to your project, impacting performance.
Learning a New Syntax: Some libraries introduce their syntax on top of CSS.
So, which is better?
Here’s a breakdown to help you decide:
Use Vanilla CSS if:
You need maximum control over your styles.
Your project is small and performance is critical.
You want to deepen your understanding of CSS fundamentals.
Use Styled Libraries if:
You prioritize rapid development and code maintainability.
Your project uses a popular framework like React or Vue that integrates well with styled libraries.
You need pre-built components for common UI elements.
The team you work with is also a factor to consider whether you are to use vanilla CSS or styled libraries.
As a frontend developer, I have used styled libraries like scss, styled-components and chakra-ui. My favourite of them all is Chakra-ui.
Let me know which you have used and your favorite
