CSS Properties

The CSS properties I look up most often.

CSS Beginner–Intermediate

Color & Background

Properties for controlling colors, backgrounds, images, and opacity.

Properties for controlling colors, backgrounds, images, and opacity.
Property Name Description Example
color Text Color Sets the foreground text color. color: #3c88a3;
background-color Background Color Sets an element's background color. background-color: #ffffff;
background-image Background Image Sets one or more background images or gradients. background-image: url('image.jpg');
background-repeat Background Repeat Controls whether and how a background image repeats. background-repeat: no-repeat;
background-position Background Position Sets the position of a background image. background-position: center;
background-size Background Size Controls the rendered size of a background image. background-size: cover;
opacity Opacity Sets the opacity of an entire element from 0 to 1. opacity: 0.8;

Typography

Properties for controlling text appearance, alignment, and spacing.

Properties for controlling text appearance, alignment, and spacing.
Property Name Description Example
font-family Font Family Sets the typeface and fallback font stack. font-family: "Inter", Arial, sans-serif;
font-size Font Size Controls text size. font-size: 1rem;
font-weight Font Weight Controls text thickness. font-weight: 600;
font-style Font Style Controls normal, italic, or oblique styling. font-style: italic;
line-height Line Height Controls spacing between lines of text. line-height: 1.6;
letter-spacing Letter Spacing Adjusts spacing between characters. letter-spacing: 0.05em;
word-spacing Word Spacing Adjusts spacing between words. word-spacing: 0.7em;
text-align Text Alignment Aligns inline content within a block container. text-align: center;
text-decoration Text Decoration Controls decorative lines such as underlines and line-throughs. text-decoration: underline;
text-transform Text Transform Controls text capitalization. text-transform: uppercase;
white-space White Space Controls whitespace collapsing and text wrapping. white-space: nowrap;

Box Model & Sizing

Properties for controlling element dimensions, spacing, borders, and overflow.

Properties for controlling element dimensions, spacing, borders, and overflow.
Property Name Description Example
width Width Sets an element's width. width: 100%;
height Height Sets an element's height. height: 300px;
min-width / max-width Width Limits Set minimum and maximum allowed widths. min-width: 100px; max-width: 500px;
min-height / max-height Height Limits Set minimum and maximum allowed heights. min-height: 100px; max-height: 500px;
margin Outer Spacing Creates space outside an element's border. margin: 2rem auto;
padding Inner Spacing Creates space between content and the element's border. padding: 1rem 1.5rem;
border Border Shorthand for border width, style, and color. border: 1px solid #000;
border-radius Corner Radius Rounds an element's corners. border-radius: 0.5rem;
box-sizing Box Sizing Controls how an element's declared width and height are calculated. box-sizing: border-box;
overflow Overflow Controls content that extends beyond an element's box. overflow: hidden;
box-shadow Box Shadow Adds one or more shadows around an element. box-shadow: 0 0 10px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);

Display & Positioning

Properties for controlling layout behavior, positioning, stacking, and visibility.

Properties for controlling layout behavior, positioning, stacking, and visibility.
Property Name Description Example
display Display Type Controls layout behavior such as block, inline, flex, grid, or none. display: flex;
position Positioning Mode Sets static, relative, absolute, fixed, or sticky positioning. position: relative;
top / right / bottom / left Offsets Offset a positioned element from the corresponding edges. top: 10px; left: 20px;
auto Automatic Sizing Lets the layout algorithm determine the value. margin-inline: auto;
inset Inset Shorthand Shorthand for top, right, bottom, and left offsets. inset: 10px 20px;
z-index Stacking Order Sets an element's stack level within the applicable stacking context. z-index: 10;
visibility Visibility Hides or shows an element while preserving its layout space when hidden. visibility: hidden;
float Float Moves an element left or right and allows inline content to wrap around it. float: left;
clear Clear Float Controls whether an element may sit beside floated elements. clear: left;

Flexbox

Properties for controlling flex containers, item sizing, alignment, and order.

Properties for controlling flex containers, item sizing, alignment, and order.
Property Name Description Example
display Flex Container Creates a Flexbox formatting context. display: flex;
flex-direction Main Axis Direction Sets the direction of the main axis. flex-direction: column;
flex-wrap Flex Wrapping Controls whether items stay on one line or wrap onto multiple lines. flex-wrap: wrap;
justify-content Main-Axis Alignment Distributes items along the main axis. justify-content: space-between;
align-items Cross-Axis Alignment Aligns items along the cross axis. align-items: center;
align-content Wrapped-Line Alignment Distributes multiple flex lines along the cross axis. align-content: space-around;
gap Gap Sets consistent spacing between flex or grid items. gap: 1rem;
flex-grow Flex Grow Controls how much an item may grow relative to other flex items. flex-grow: 1;
flex-shrink Flex Shrink Controls how much an item may shrink relative to other flex items. flex-shrink: 1;
flex-basis Flex Basis Sets an item's initial main-axis size before free space is distributed. flex-basis: auto;
flex Flex Shorthand Shorthand for flex-grow, flex-shrink, and flex-basis. flex: 1 1 auto;
align-self Individual Alignment Overrides align-items for one flex or grid item. align-self: center;
order Visual Order Changes the visual order of a flex or grid item. order: 1;

CSS Grid

Properties for defining grid tracks, placement, spacing, and alignment.

Properties for defining grid tracks, placement, spacing, and alignment.
Property Name Description Example
display Grid Container Creates a CSS Grid formatting context. display: grid;
grid-template-columns Grid Columns Defines grid column tracks. grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
grid-template-rows Grid Rows Defines grid row tracks. grid-template-rows: 100px auto;
grid-template-areas Named Grid Areas Defines a visual layout using named grid areas. grid-template-areas: "header header" "sidebar main";
grid-column Column Placement Controls where a grid item starts and ends across columns. grid-column: 1 / 3;
grid-row Row Placement Controls where a grid item starts and ends across rows. grid-row: 1 / 2;
grid-area Grid Area Sets a named area or shorthand row and column placement. grid-area: header;
gap Grid Gap Sets spacing between grid rows and columns. gap: 1rem;
justify-items Inline Alignment Aligns items within their grid areas along the inline axis. justify-items: center;
align-items Block Alignment Aligns items within their grid areas along the block axis. align-items: center;
place-items Alignment Shorthand Combines align-items and justify-items. place-items: center;

Effects & Interaction

Properties for controlling visual effects, motion, and user interaction.

Properties for controlling visual effects, motion, and user interaction.
Property Name Description Example
cursor Cursor Controls the cursor appearance when pointing at an element. cursor: pointer;
transform Transform Moves, rotates, scales, or skews an element. transform: rotate(45deg);
transform-origin Transform Origin Sets the point around which a transform occurs. transform-origin: center;
transition Transition Animates changes between supported property values. transition: opacity 0.3s ease;
animation Animation Applies one or more keyframe animations. animation: slideIn 0.5s ease-in-out;
filter Filter Applies graphical effects such as blur or grayscale. filter: blur(5px);
outline Outline Draws a line outside the border and is commonly used for focus indicators. outline: 2px solid blue;
pointer-events Pointer Events Controls whether an element can be the target of pointer events. pointer-events: auto;
user-select Text Selection Controls whether users can select an element's text. user-select: none;
accent-color Form Accent Color Sets the accent color of compatible native form controls. accent-color: blue;

Responsive Tools

Rules, functions, and properties for creating flexible and responsive layouts.

Rules, functions, and properties for creating flexible and responsive layouts.
Property / Rule Name Description Example
@media Media Query Applies CSS when specified media conditions match. @media (max-width: 600px) { ... }
clamp() Responsive Clamp Constrains a preferred value between a minimum and maximum. clamp(1rem, 2.5vw, 2rem);
min() Minimum Function Uses the smallest calculated value from a list. min(100px, 20vw);
max() Maximum Function Uses the largest calculated value from a list. max(100px, 20vw);
object-fit Media Fit Controls how replaced content such as images or videos fits its content box. object-fit: cover;
aspect-ratio Aspect Ratio Defines a preferred width-to-height ratio for an element. aspect-ratio: 16 / 9;