Is CSS a Programming Language?

Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) is a stylesheet language that instructs the browser how we want our HTML to appear; it is not a programming language. More than 95% of all websites on the internet today employ CSS to establish their design, making it highly crucial.

There are often debates about whether CSS qualifies as a programming language. Although it contains some characteristics of a programming language, such as being Turing complete when combined with relevant HTML, it lacks the majority of the essential properties needed to qualify as one.

Sometimes software developers who use CSS feel worse about their tech stack or that their work is vital since programmers using appropriate programming languages belittle them and make them feel that way.

Is CSS a programming language? We will address this confusion in this article. We will examine CSS as a non-programming language and discover why it does not matter.

What is CSS Used for?

CSS, which stands for Cascading Style Sheets, describes how colors, fonts, and layouts are presented in markup languages, most commonly HTML, in web development. It allows one to adapt the web page presentation to different devices, such as large and small screens. A website would not be attractive if it lacked CSS for adding colors, styles, shadows, layouts, and borders. We can think of HTML as a set of Lego pieces and CSS as the color and shape that adds to those pieces.

Is Writing CSS Code Considered Programming?

A programming language is a way for programmers to interact with computers. It enables us to specify a set of instructions for the computers to execute to perform a specific task. In contrast, CSS holds information about the appearance of a web page or a structured document and defines the layout, fonts, colors, etc.

What is the Difference between Programming Languages and Style Sheets?

With programming languages, we develop a series of instructions the computer needs to follow to execute a task. A style sheet expresses the presentation of structured documents. It specifies what style rules apply to each element, such as colors, backgrounds, layouts, fonts, etc. The main difference between a stylesheet and a programming language is that a stylesheet contains formatting instructions rather than logic or algorithms.

Is CSS a Programming Language?

CSS is a custom stylesheet language and does not function as a programming language. CSS defines the appearance of the markup rather than how to build an application. Due to its technical nature, we often perceive it as a programming language.

Is CSS a programming language? Let us figure out what:

• Presentation vs function

  We use CSS to style markup languages like HTML. CSS is concerned with the appearance and presentation of our web pages, not how they function. There is no way it can run functions or perform calculations. Programming languages describe functions, whereas CSS describes presentation.

  However, there are a few exceptions to this argument. CSS accepts calc(), a math function. In CSS, media queries are like switch statements, and custom properties are like state variables. With the addition of some functions, one can argue that CSS has grounds for being considered a programming language by itself.

• Turing Complete

  A Turing complete system represents a system in which we can write a program such that it can solve any computation problem. Since CSS does not satisfy the Turing complete system requirement, we do not view CSS as a programming language.

  When combined with a relevant HTML file and user interactions, CSS is Turing-complete.However, it is unlikely that we will write programs in CSS and HTML since it is just not practical.

• A different type of language

  CSS is a stylesheet language rather than a programming language. CSS can’t function alone; it depends on a markup language like HTML. CSS determines how our markup is shown rather than focusing on its functionality. There are arguments for CSS being considered a domain-specific programming language like SQL rather than a general programming language.

In conclusion, the above factors clarify the question: Is CSS a programming language?

Does It matter if CSS is a Programming Language?

It does not matter whether we consider CSS a programming language or not. Regardless of our perspectives, we must respect the software developers who use different technologies.

• Respect

  The issue with asking whether CSS is a programming language is that it rarely originates from a kind place. To the detriment of other software engineers, it is common for people to try to categorize what constitutes a genuine or legitimate programming language. While others are working on projects employing two-bit languages, many are eager to demonstrate that they are performing the actual development work. It creates unneeded splits within a group. Although CSS is a style sheet language rather than a programming language, it does not devalue developers in real life.

• Money

  People dislike the idea that a worthless language like JavaScript can support six-figure incomes for its practitioners. When we devote a lot of time and energy to a skill set that does not pay as well, it might be hard to accept. This issue typically arises from programmers who have studied a low-level language but feel underpaid for their work.

• Technical skill

  It is necessary for hiring managers to be able to distinguish between the technical skills of the candidates. Hiring the right people for the right job is crucial. Hence, why some people are so keen to establish their technical skill sets.

  Declaring that you can program if all you know is CSS may be deceptive or confusing because some supervisors may not understand the distinctions between programming languages. However, in all honesty, that is a weak justification for trashing the technical proficiency of another person.

Advanced CSS Technologies and Programming

When we move past the point of just formatting elements of our HTML document with properties like colors, font size, font type, etc., we enter the realm of advanced technologies, where we may solve issues that more closely resemble traditional programming. Using CSS, we may leverage object orientation, specify functions, and create transparent, straightforward modular systems.

Is CSS a Markup Language?

CSS is not a markup language; it is a style sheet language that defines the presentation of other markup languages like HTML. Markup languages are responsible for developing a layout of each element on a web page, whereas `CSS styles these elements. It affects appearance but relies on a markup language to be effective. Cascading style sheets define the representation of the document rather than its functionality.