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How does Tailwind work?

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Lecture Summary

Understanding Tailwind CSS: A Utility-First Approach

In this lesson, we explore how Tailwind CSS operates using a utility-first methodology, contrasting it with traditional CSS practices. Instead of creating custom class names for styling, Tailwind encourages the use of small, reusable utility classes that can be directly applied to HTML elements. This approach simplifies the styling process, enhances reusability, and mitigates the common inefficiencies associated with managing custom CSS classes.

Traditional CSS involves creating custom class names for elements, defining styles separately.
Tailwind CSS employs a utility-first approach, using predefined utility classes to apply styles directly.
Each Tailwind class corresponds to a CSS rule that Tailwind generates behind the scenes.
Utility classes can significantly reduce the time spent managing large CSS files and using methodologies like BEM.
A common misconception is that Tailwind classes are similar to inline styles; however, they are reusable across the application unlike inline styles.
Tailwind supports advanced properties, pseudo-classes, and media queries that inline styles do not.

Transcript

00:00:03 So how does Tailwind CSS actually work?

00:00:06 Before we dive in, let's quickly compare traditional CSS with Tailwind's utility-first approach.

00:00:12 So how do we normally write CSS?

00:00:14 Well, we create some elements and assign them CSS classes.

00:00:18 Something like a div with a container and an h1 with a container heading.

00:00:23 And then we define those classes in CSS, dot container, give it a display flex, justify content center, you know the drill.

00:00:31 And you can also style the heading.

00:00:33 Here, container and container headings are just custom classes with predefined styles.

00:00:38 But now let's rethink that with a utility-first mindset.

00:00:43 What if instead of writing custom class names, we broke styles into small, reusable utility classes?

00:00:50 Something like .flex will set a display of flex, item center will set the aligned items to center, and so on.

00:00:58 You can do the same thing for colors or even font sizes.

00:01:01 With these utilities in place, we can now structure our HTML like this.

00:01:06 You can create a div and give it class names of flex, justify center, item center.

00:01:12 And the same thing goes with a p tag.

00:01:14 See the difference?

00:01:15 We're still using classes, but instead of defining custom class names, we're composing styles directly with utility classes.

00:01:22 And this is exactly how Tailwind CSS works.

00:01:26 Every Tailwind class is just a predefined CSS rule.

00:01:30 For example, when we use flex, Tailwind generates that property behind the scenes.

00:01:35 And I get how this might feel like just a lot of extra work, but trust me, it'll save you hours because you won't have to worry about class names,

00:01:42 structuring styles with the BEM methodology, or managing gigantic CSS files.

00:01:47 You can just use the utilities and Tailwind does the rest.

00:01:51 But Tailwind Simplicity is also a cause for a lot of misconceptions around it.

00:01:56 There's a common myth when talking about Tailwind.

00:01:59 And that is, aren't all of these just inline styles?

00:02:02 We're basically writing everything on a single tag.

00:02:05 Inline.

00:02:06 So why can't we use just a regular CSS?

00:02:09 applying a style property with a padding of 10 and a color of blue.

00:02:13 Well, it's not really the same, because this doesn't allow you to use more advanced properties like pseudo classes, which we'll explore later on,

00:02:20 and they also don't give you access to media queries.

00:02:23 But even more importantly, Inline styles cannot be reused.

00:02:27 You have to rewrite them on every single element where you need them.

00:02:31 But Tailwind CSS utility classes, on the other hand, are completely reusable, which means that you can create a small set of reusable CSS classes and then

00:02:40 use them on whichever element you want across the entire application.

00:02:44 Hopefully, you will never again think that Tailwind is the same as inline styles.

00:02:48 And you're actually excited to see what more it brings to the table.

00:02:52 So let's dive deeper into this crash course so that very soon you can build a real world project so you can truly master it.

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Lecture Summary

Understanding Tailwind CSS: A Utility-First Approach

Traditional CSS involves creating custom class names for elements, defining styles separately.
Tailwind CSS employs a utility-first approach, using predefined utility classes to apply styles directly.
Each Tailwind class corresponds to a CSS rule that Tailwind generates behind the scenes.
Utility classes can significantly reduce the time spent managing large CSS files and using methodologies like BEM.
A common misconception is that Tailwind classes are similar to inline styles; however, they are reusable across the application unlike inline styles.
Tailwind supports advanced properties, pseudo-classes, and media queries that inline styles do not.