Tailwind CSS: Definition, History, Functions and Examples

Tailwind CSS Definition

What is Tailwind CSS? It is a utility-first CSS framework, which provides ready-to-use CSS classes that can be used directly to style the user interface. Unlike other CSS frameworks that usually provide components with ready-to-use styles, Tailwind gives you the freedom to style each element from scratch. This approach makes it easy for developers to create consistent and unique designs with minimal CSS code.

Tailwind CSS History

The history of Tailwind CSS began with Adam Wathan, a Canadian developer, in 2017. Adam created Tailwind as a solution to the problem of repetition in writing CSS.

Tailwind grew rapidly in the developer community because of its utility-first approach that is different from other frameworks, providing high flexibility without enforcing default styles. Now, Tailwind continues to grow with regular updates and exciting new features.

Tailwind CSS Function

The function of Tailwind CSS is as a toolkit for styling web pages quickly and efficiently. By using utility classes, developers can add various CSS properties to HTML elements without having to write CSS files manually.

Another advantage of Tailwind CSS is its ability to produce small CSS files because it only includes styles that are actually used in the project, thanks to its purge feature.

How to Use Tailwind CSS

Here’s how to use Tailwind CSS:

Installation with npm

Tailwind can be installed via npm by running the command.

Initialize Configuration

After installation, create a configuration file by running.

CSS Configuration

Add @tailwind to your main CSS file.

Setting up PurgeCSS

Configure purge in the tailwind.config.js file to remove unused styles.

Compiling CSS

Run Tailwind using the command.

Learn About Tailwind CSS

You can learn Tailwind CSS through various sources such as official documentation, video tutorials on YouTube or online courses. Some tips for learning about Tailwind CSS include:

Read the Official Documentation

The documentation on tailwindcss.com is very complete and provides examples for each class.

Small Projects

Start with simple projects such as creating a landing page or portfolio. This can help you understand the various utilities available. Hands-On Practice

Try experimenting with combining utility classes to understand the resulting styles.

Tailwind CSS Application Example

Here is an example of Tailwind CSS in creating a button for web design:

<button class=”bg-blue-500 hover:bg-blue-700 text-white font-bold py-2 px-4 rounded”>

The explanation is:

1. bg-blue-500: Gives a blue background color with an intensity of 500.

2. hover:bg-blue-700: Changes the background color to be darker when the cursor is hovered over the button.

3. text-white: Makes the text color white.

4. font-bold: Makes the text bold.

5. py-2 px-4: Gives top-bottom padding (py) of 2 and left-right (px) of 4.

6. rounded: Makes the corners of the button slightly curved.

Differences between Tailwind CSS and Bootstrap

Here are some differences between Tailwind and Bootstrap:

1. Design and Styling Approach

Bootstrap: Component-based, provides ready-to-use components.

Tailwind CSS: Utility-first, focuses on using individual classes for each style.

2. Flexibility in Customization

Bootstrap: Limited to provided components, but can be modified with custom CSS.

Tailwind CSS: Tailwind offers a very high level of customization because it allows developers to change almost every aspect of the design directly by adding or combining utility classes.

3. CSS File Size and Optimization

Bootstrap: Bootstrap provides one large CSS file that contains all its components and utilities.

Tailwind CSS: Tailwind CSS is a program that is created with built-in optimization features that make CSS files lighter

4. Responsive Usage

Bootstrap: Bootstrap has a column-based responsive grid system, which makes it easy to set up responsive layouts across devices. It provides standard breakpoints (such as sm, md, lg, xl and xxl) that can be used to adjust the display on different screens.

Tailwind CSS: Tailwind provides direct responsive classes for almost every utility class, with breakpoints like sm, md, lg, xl and 2xl.

5. Ready-to-Use Components

Bootstrap: One of Bootstrap’s main strengths is its collection of ready-to-use UI components.

Tailwind CSS: Tailwind does not provide built-in components, but provides utility classes that can be used to build these components from scratch.

6. Ease of Use for Beginners

Bootstrap: Bootstrap is relatively easier to learn and use for beginners because it already provides complete components and standard layouts.

Tailwind CSS: Tailwind requires a better understanding of CSS and the utility-first concept. Beginners may find it difficult with the many utility classes and it takes more time.

Understanding Tailwind CSS did not take long for me, because I chose to take a programming course. From here I managed to create various programs by understanding the basic concepts, one of which is Tailwind CSS.

Tailwind CSS offers a different approach to web styling compared to frameworks like Bootstrap. While it may seem complicated at first, Tailwind CSS is an ideal choice for projects that require unique and consistent designs.

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