CSS Fundamentals: Essential Properties for Beginners
Tags: css, webdev, beginners, tutorial
Published: 2023-07-11 12:00:00

**_CSS Fundamentals: Essential Properties for Beginners_**

## Introduction

As a beginner in web development, understanding [CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)](https://maxlockwood.dev/category/css/) and its properties is essential for creating visually appealing and well-structured websites.

In this article, we will explore some of the most common CSS properties that every beginner should know.

With code examples and practical explanations, you'll gain a solid foundation in CSS and be able to confidently style your web pages.

So, let's dive in and discover the key CSS properties you need to master!

### 1. Font Properties

Font properties allow you to control the appearance of text on your web pages. Properties like font-family, font-size, and font-weight enable you to define the font style, size, and thickness, respectively. For example:

```css
p {
  font-family: Inter, sans-serif;
  font-size: 16px;
  font-weight: normal;
}
```

### 2. Color Properties

CSS provides various properties to define colors, such as color for text color and background-color for background color. You can use color names, hexadecimal values, or RGB values to specify colors. Here's an example:

```css
h1 {
  color: #FF0000;
  background-color: rgba(0, 128, 0, 0.3);
}
```

### 3. Margin and Padding Properties

Margin and padding properties control the spacing around elements. The margin property sets the space outside an element, while the padding property defines the space inside an element. Here's how you can use them:

```css
div {
  margin: 10px;
  padding: 20px;
}
```

### 4. Display Property

The [display property](https://maxlockwood.dev/what-is-the-css-display-property/) determines how an element is rendered on the page. It allows you to control whether an element is displayed as a block, inline, or inline-block. For example:

```css
span {
  display: inline;
}

div {
  display: block;
}

img {
  display: inline-block;
}
```

### 5. Box Model Properties

5. Box Model Properties

The [box model](https://maxlockwood.dev/what-are-the-4-properties-in-a-css-box-model/) is a fundamental concept in CSS. Properties like width, height, border, margin, and padding [work together to define the layout and spacing of elements](https://maxlockwood.dev/what-are-html-elements-2/). Here's an example:

```css
div {
  width: 200px;
  height: 150px;
  border: 1px solid #000;
  margin: 10px;
  padding: 20px;
}
```

## Conclusion

By familiarising yourself with these common CSS properties, you'll be equipped to style your web pages effectively. Remember to experiment and practice with different values to see the visual impact they create. 

As you continue your journey in [web development](https://maxlockwood.dev/5-reasons-why-you-should-become-a-web-developer/), mastering CSS properties will empower you to create visually stunning and well-designed websites. 

Keep exploring and honing your CSS skills, and enjoy the creative possibilities that CSS offers!

### Further reading

Want to learn more about Basic CSS Properties? Then check out - [CSS basics - Learn web development | MDN](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/CSS_basics)

### See also

[What is CSS? Basics Explained](https://maxlockwood.dev/what-is-css/)
[What are the 3 Ways to Style in CSS?](CSS)
[What are the Most Common CSS Units?](https://maxlockwood.dev/what-are-the-most-common-css-units/)

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