Must-Read Resources for CSS Beginners


css for beginners

CSS, or Cascading Style Sheets is a “style sheet language which is used to describe the looks and formatting of a document written in a markup language such as HTML and XHTML”. (Source)
There is a lot to learn about CSS, and any web designer or developer who wants to stay on top of his game has to learn it. Even amateurs, who simply want to DIY their web sites, have a lot to benefit from knowing at least the basics of CSS. Whether you are looking at learning CSS for professional or personal purposes, this is a good place to start. CSS Basics has a step by step guide, which you can use as a starting point, but you can also branch out and look at other articles and books in order to expand your knowledge.
Here are some must-read resources for CSS beginners.
w3schools (website)
This site is one of the go-to sites for people who want to jump into the web development waters. It has made its reputation by providing tons of useful and practical content, which even beginners can follow. They have a section for CSS, which you will find easy to follow as well.
The Essential Guide to CSS and HTML Web Design (book)
This book puts together what you need to know about HTML and CSS, which goes hand in hand anyway. It is highly recommended by those who have used it as a reference, and it is currently on sale over Amazon for only $18.81.
CSS3 for Web Designers (book)
From insight into web fonts to visual enhancements you can make on web pages, this book will teach you what you need to know about CSS3, which is the latest standard in CSS.
Learn HTML and CSS: An Absolute Beginner’s Guide (article)
This article is one of the best guides for absolute beginners. The assumption is that you know how to use your computer and you know what web sites look like, but even if you don’t know much more than that, this guide will give you nuggets – nay, chunks – of practical information that will get you building your own decent-looking web site using HTML and CSS. It doesn’t only focus on those two elements, but also takes into consideration other tools that you might need.

15 Best Web Safe Fonts That Work with HTML & CSS (article)
A big part of web design is the fonts you choose. Sounds easy enough, right? Well not everyone has access to the same fonts thanks to different devices, computers, and operating systems. In this list, you’ll find the 15 best fonts that work with HTML and CSS.
20 Useful CSS Tips for Beginners (article)
This resource is a list-type post, which is certainly not exhaustive but it does give you some of the most useful things you can do with CSS. It is very practical, and it is a handy reference guide for CSS beginners.
30 CSS Best Practices for Beginners (article)
Here is another article that puts together the most useful and practical points that you will want to bear in mind as you create your web site. Before you jump into the article, I suggest taking a look at the more basic resources above, though.
Beginner’s Guide to CSS (video)
If you’re more of a visual person – the chances of that are rather high if you think about it – then you might want a video tutorial. Here is one resource which you can check out.
You can read/watch all you want about CSS, but at the end of the day, you will need to roll your sleeves up and get your hands dirty – albeit virtually – if you really want to know how to use CSS effectively. Don’t be afraid to dive in and make mistakes. With these resources and fearless practice, you’ll get the hang of it in no time!
This article was written by Ben Taylor, a fan of responsive design, skeuomorphism, and a happy user of Clear Internet Deals. He never thought he would end up designing web sites, but he won’t exchange his profession for anything else.
Image via Jason Barton

Erica

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