Inline CSS 

You can apply style guidelines to particular HTML components by using inline CSS. Instead of using an external CSS, inlining CSS involves including CSS within an HTML file. Although its use is restricted, inline CSS is useful for defining unique characteristics since it enables the implementation of a specific style to a single HTML element.

When CSS is used, a chunk of the code is inlined straight into the place where it will be used. This speeds up the coding, which causes the loading of pages to happen quickly. 

What is Inline CSS?

Cascading Style Sheets define the appearance of web pages containing HTML elements (CSS). It changes the web page’s colour palette, font size, and other elements.

The following are the three CSS types:

1. Inline CSS
2. Internal or Embedded CSS
3. External CSS

Inline CSS

Inline CSS is a style sheet that includes a CSS property in the content of an element. The style attribute of an HTML tag is used to specify this kind of style.

Internal or Embedded CSS 

This can be used when just one HTML element requires to be styled differently. Because the CSS rule corresponds in the head section of the HTML file, it is inserted there.

External CSS 

External CSS contains a second CSS file that only contains style properties when tag attributes are used. CSS properties are linked to the HTML file with a link tag and stored in a distinct file system with the.css suffix. This means that only one style can be chosen for each element, and that style will be applied across all web pages.

Since fewer files must be downloaded for the browser to show the web page, inline CSS is considered advantageous. The browser loads an HTML file first when using an external CSS and afterwards downloads the CSS file. The procedure is sped up by using an inline CSS, which only requires downloading one HTML file instead of two.

What is the Difference Between Inline and Internal CSS?

Inline styles apply a style attribute along a CSS rule to a specific HTML tag to style a specific page element. As every inline style you generate must be modified independently if you want to make a design change, they are less versatile than internal style sheets but excellent for fast and permanent modifications.

The header section of the HTML document has an internal stylesheet containing the page’s CSS rules. The rules only apply to that page, despite the ability to establish CSS styles and IDs in the page code to style various elements. Once again, a single change to the CSS rule affects every substantial page element.

The “embedded stylesheet,” also known as inline CSS, will take precedence over any other CSS that targets the same components. Browsers determine that inline CSS declarations are most applicable and should be used because they are the most similar to HTML. It is, therefore, beneficial when targeting a single component with specific style characteristics, but it should be ignored when internal or external CSS can be used instead.

Inline CSS appears one way, and internal CSS looks another. A CSS property and value are still set, but now they are enclosed in brackets and specified by a CSS selector rather than being contained within a style attribute. This rule set is then contained within the <style></style> tags and is located in the HTML file’s head section.

When to Use Inline CSS?

Inline styles can be used for temporary styles that aren’t intended to be shared with other elements or for short HTML / CSS mockups or prototypes. They may also be helpful when you need a short fix in operation while you resolve the problems locally; remove them once everything is working properly.

One of the numerous benefits of inline CSS is that it prevents the need for your web browser to download an additional external file by placing CSS in the head section of HTML. It avoids going back and forth to the browser.

To make a landing or home page load more quickly and be successfully viewed, it is a good practice to inline the CSS. 

Wrapping Up 

The colour, font, size, spacing between elements, positioning of elements, background images, background colours, different displays for various screens and devices, and much more may all be controlled using CSS.

To apply a particular style to a single HTML element, use an inline CSS. It makes use of an HTML element’s style attribute. The website’s rendering in the browser is delayed when external stylesheets are downloaded. Since the browser is not required to stop to download an external stylesheet before beginning to render the page, inlining CSS speeds up this process.

Where can I learn CSS?

There are many resources available that can teach you CSS. Code Institute teaches it as part of our Full-Stack Development programme. If you want to learn some of the basics for free, then try our free 5 Day Coding Challenge. After just one hour a day for five days, you will have built your first-ever web page. Register today through the form below and take your first steps in becoming a coder.