I get a great many reader comments that read something like this: “Your site is the best CSS resource on the web (okay, maybe I’m embellishing slightly here), but where do I start if I’m new?” And that’s a fantastic question. If you’re new to the site, it can be tough to find your way around at first. So here is a collection of articles to get you started. I’ve broken them down into two categories: articles for true CSS newbies, and articles for people new to CSSnewbie, but with an understanding of CSS.
New to CSS
If you don’t know much about CSS at all, but would like to, here is where you want to start. I’ve tried to put them in an order that makes sense, but feel free to click around as you see fit.
- What Is This CSS Thing, Anyway?
- How to Write a CSS Rule
- Understanding the CSS Box Model
- When to Use CSS IDs and Classes
- When to Use Inline, In-Document, and Linked CSS
- The 4 CSS Rules of Multiplicity
- Writing CSS Shorthand
- 5 Web Design Books That Have Inspired Me
New to CSSnewbie.com
So where should you start reading if you’re new to the site? Well, that’s largely subjective depending on your interests, but here are a few articles that a lot of people have found interesting in the past.
- A Semantic List-Based CSS Calendar
- The CSS-Only Accordion Effect
- Easy CSS Dropdown Menus
- Combating Classitis with Cascades and Sequential Selectors
- Intelligent Navigation Bars with JavaScript and CSS
- 7 Tips for Great Print Style Sheets
- Book-Style Chapter Introductions Using Pure CSS
And if those articles don’t whet your whistle, don’t forget to check out the article categories listed in the sidebar. That’s a great way to find a lot of information fast, if you know what it is you’re looking for.
If you have other articles you’ve read on this site that are favorites, or articles that you think are essential to the beginning CSS master, please don’t hesitate to mention them in the comments. I’d be more than willing to add things to either list.
Also, I’ll be adding a link to this article to the sidebar once it has cycled off the front page. That way, future generations can bask in our collective wisdom.