Ways to Add CSS: Inline, Internal, External

Introduction CSS can be applied to HTML documents in multiple ways, each with its own advantages and use cases. The three primary methods are: Understanding when to use each method is essential for writing efficient and maintainable styles. 1. Inline CSS Inline CSS applies styles directly within an HTML element using the style attribute. Example: […]

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  • Post category: CSS
  • Reading time: 31 mins read
  • Post last modified: April 3, 2025

Introduction

CSS can be applied to HTML documents in multiple ways, each with its own advantages and use cases. The three primary methods are:

  • Inline CSS
  • Internal CSS
  • External CSS

Understanding when to use each method is essential for writing efficient and maintainable styles.

1. Inline CSS

Inline CSS applies styles directly within an HTML element using the style attribute.

Example:

<p style="color: blue; font-size: 18px;">This is a styled paragraph.</p>
CSS

Advantages:

✔ Quick and easy for small changes. ✔ No need for an external file.

Disadvantages:

✘ Not reusable, making maintenance difficult. ✘ Increases HTML file size and reduces readability.

2. Internal CSS

Internal CSS is written inside a <style> tag within the <head> section of an HTML document.

Example:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
    <title>Internal CSS Example</title>
    <style>
        body {
            background-color: lightgray;
            text-align: center;
        }
    </style>
</head>
<body>
    <h1>Welcome to CSS</h1>
    <p>This is a styled paragraph.</p>
</body>
</html>
CSS

Advantages:

✔ Keeps styles within a single document. ✔ Useful for styling one-page websites.

Disadvantages:

✘ Not reusable across multiple pages. ✘ Can make the HTML file bulky.

3. External CSS

External CSS is written in a separate .css file and linked to the HTML document using a <link> tag.

Example:

style.css (External CSS File)

body {
    background-color: lightblue;
    font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
}
CSS

index.html

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
    <title>External CSS Example</title>
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="style.css">
</head>
<body>
    <h1>Styled with External CSS</h1>
</body>
</html>
CSS

Advantages:

✔ Allows styles to be reused across multiple pages. ✔ Keeps HTML clean and maintainable. ✔ Enhances website performance.

Disadvantages:

✘ Requires an additional HTTP request to load the CSS file. ✘ Styles won’t apply if the CSS file fails to load.

Conclusion

  • Inline CSS is good for quick fixes.
  • Internal CSS is useful for single-page applications.
  • External CSS is the best practice for large-scale websites due to maintainability and reusability.

Choosing the right method depends on the project requirements and scalability.

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