subject: Different Ways To Optimize The Css File In Website Design [print this page] CSS plays a crucial role in a Web Site Design, however, sometimes it becomes imperative to reduce the size of the CSS file in order to improve accessibility of the website and enhance the performance of the website. CSS optimization help website designers to speed up the website and decrease the page load time of the website.
In this article, I have highlighted various CSS optimization and size reduction methods which are used by all the professional website designers. By incorporating below mentioned techniques, one may get reduced CSS files based on the level of complexity of files.
Merge all the CSS files and create one common CSS file! Just keep in mind that, HTTP request will generate for each of the CSS file present within your website. If you website has 2 CSS file 2 separate HTTP request will sent to server. This will take more time to load the page of your website. One way to come out from this is to combine all the CSS file into one file. It will help reduce HTTP request and improve the performance of the website.
Use external CSS file rather than inline! Inline CSS will help to restrict the HTTP request, but at the same time it will increase the HTML file size. So, always prefer using an external CSS as it will be directly cached by the browser and will decrease the HTML file size by maintaining HTTP request at its lowest. It will enhance the performance of the website.
Prefer to use CSS Shorthand! It will bring together similar properties setting and help to reduce the size of the CSS file.
Incorporate CSS Sprite! This method will minimize the HTTP request by combining the background image into one single image and utilize CSS properties to make it visible to users. This method helps to optimize CSS and improve performance of the website as well.
Try to minimize the line breaks used within CSS file. It will help to decrease the size of the CSS file easily.
Delete the last semicolon in CSS file.
Dont forget to delete the unnecessary classes! During web development, there are chances that some classes are created to cope up with design modifications but they are not useful after that. Hence, locate them and delete them as they occupy space in the CSS file and may increase the size of the CSS file. Deleting them will help to reduce the CSS file size .
Take assistance from CSS compression tools to optimize the CSS files.
Hence, from the above mentioned factors we see various methods or techniques through which we can optimize the CSS file in order to enhance the performance of the website.
