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Contextual Utility Classes for Color with Custom Properties
14.8.2019
In CSS, we have the ability to access currentColor which is tremendously useful. Sadly, we do not have access to anything like currentBackgroundColor, and the color-mod() function is still a ways away.
With that said, I am sure I am not alone when I say I'd like to style some links based on...
In Search of a Stack That Monitors the Quality and Complexity of CSS
12.8.2019
Many developers write about how to maintain a CSS codebase, yet not a lot of them write about how they measure the quality of that codebase. Sure, we have excellent linters like StyleLint and CSSLint, but they only help at preventing mistakes at a micro level. Using a wrong color notation, adding...
Design Principles for Developers: Processes and CSS Tips for Better Web Design
8.8.2019
It is technically true that anyone can cook. But there’s a difference between actually knowing how to prepare a delicious meal and hoping for the best as you throw a few ingredients in a pot. Just like web development, you might know the ingredients—<span>, background-color, .heading-1—but...
CSS prefers-reduced-motion Media Query
30.7.2019
When I started in the web development industry, media queries were limited — screen and print were the two media queries I was most often using. More than a decade later, media queries have advanced to various screen units, feature checking, and even color scheme preference. I’ve been...
Datalist is for suggesting values without enforcing values
26.7.2019
Have you ever had a form that needed to accept a short, arbitrary bit of text? Like a name or whatever. That's exactly what <input type="text"> is for. There are lots of different input types (and modes!), and picking the right one is a great idea.
But this little story is about something...
Managing Multiple Backgrounds with Custom Properties
15.7.2019
One cool thing about CSS custom properties is that they can be a part of a value. Let's say you're using multiple backgrounds to pull off a a design. Each background will have its own color, image, repeat, position, etc. It can be verbose!
You have four images:
body {
background-position:
...
Color Inputs: A Deep Dive into Cross-Browser Differences
12.7.2019
In this article, we'll be taking a look at the structure inside <input type='color'> elements, browser inconsistencies, why they look a certain way in a certain browser, and how to dig into it. Having a good understanding of this input allows us to evaluate whether a certain cross-browser...
A Quick Look at the First Public Working Draft for Color Adjust Module 1
29.5.2019
We've been talking a lot about Dark Mode around here ever since Apple released it as a system setting in MacOS 10.14 and subsequently as part of Safari. It's interesting because of both what it opens up as as far as design opportunities as well as tailoring user experience based on actual user...
Color contrast accessibility tools
29.5.2019
Accessibility is all the rage these days, specifically when it comes to color contrast. I’ve stumbled upon a couple of tools this week that I think are pretty nifty for helping make sure that all of the text on our websites is legible regardless of what background color they might have.
First...
The “Inside” Problem
20.5.2019
So, you're working on a design. You need a full-width container element because the design has a background-color that goes from edge-to-edge horizontally. But the content inside doesn’t necessarily need to be edge-to-edge. You want to:
Limit the width (for large screens)
Pad the edges
Center...
Change Color of SVG on Hover
13.5.2019
There are a lot of different ways to use SVG. Depending on which way, the tactic for recoloring that SVG in different states or conditions — :hover, :active, :focus, class name change, etc. — is different.
Let's look at the ways.
Inline SVG
Inline SVG is my favorite way to use...
SVG Properties and CSS
13.5.2019
There are many Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG), but only certain attributes can be applied as CSS to SVG. Presentation attributes are used to style SVG elements and can be used as CSS properties. Some of these attributes are SVG-only while others are already shared in CSS, such as font-size...
Stay in Touch With Markets Using the Cryptowatch App
9.5.2019
Cryptocurrency prices and market trends are constantly in flux. Cryptowatch is an Android Wear application that updates users about price changes on the go. It’s always with you, even when your smartphone is not around or runs out of battery. Also read: Coin 360 Provides Color-Based Crypto...
Collective #513
6.5.2019
Making Future Interfaces: ES Modules * Brevis * Found color * A Conspiracy To Kill IE6 * Gameboy.Live
Collective #513 was written by Pedro Botelho and published on Codrops
Collective #507
11.4.2019
Developer Survey Results 2019 * Well-aimed? * Perflink * UX Agenda * Spider * Color accessibility tools * Citybound
Collective #507 was written by Pedro Botelho and published on Codrops
Using “box shadows” and clip-path together
11.4.2019
Let's do a little step-by-step of a situation where you can't quite do what seems to make sense, but you can still get it done with CSS trickery. In this case, it'll be applying a shadow to a shape.
You make a box
.tag {
background: #FB8C00;
color: #222;
font: bold 32px system-ui;
padding:...
What Are Design Tokens?
3.4.2019
I’ve been hearing a lot about design tokens lately, and although I’ve never had to work on a project that’s needed them, I think they’re super interesting and worth jotting down a few notes about. As I understand it, the general idea is this: design tokens are an agnostic way to store variables...
Breaking CSS Custom Properties out of :root Might Be a Good Idea
27.3.2019
CSS Custom Properties have been a hot topic for a while now, with tons of great articles about them, from great primers on how they work to creative tutorials to do some real magic with them. If you’ve read more than one or two articles on the topic, then I’m sure you’ve noticed that they start...
Collective #500
18.3.2019
lax.js * An Introduction to Web Components * Core * Color.review * CSS Grid: Floor Plan * CSS Nesting Module
Collective #500 was written by Pedro Botelho and published on Codrops
Do CSS Custom Properties Beat Sass Loops?
2.3.2019
I reckon that a lot of our uses of Sass maps can be replaced with CSS Custom properties – but hear me out for a sec.
When designing components we often need to use the same structure of a component but change its background or text color based on a theme. For example, in an alert, we might need...