Should I use px or rem value units in my CSS?
For responsive design and user-adjustable sizes, use rem
. It scales with the browser's root font size (Vote rem
2022 for fluid layouts!).
However, if you need absolute control and you want elements that do not scale, hitch your wagon to px
. This unit is perfect for pinning down those stubborn pixels.
Example:
For text size and other spacing between elements, rem
reigns supreme. For non-scalable UI components like images, px
commands the field.
Delving into px
and rem
Why px
?
Pixels (px
) are like the boulders of the web. They're solid, they're dependable and they don't move an inch (or a pixel).
- Absolute, unyielding control? You want
px
. - Want crisp and clear images, borders and a resolution-independent design?
px
is your guy. - Living in the past with legacy browsers (looking at you, IE 😄)? Stick with the familiar
px
.
And why rem
?
Enter the rem
unit. Psychedelic compared to the sober pixel, rem
is related to the root element's font size. It's flexible, modern and your go-to for:
- Accessibility: Adjusting font sizes for visually impaired users?
rem
is your friend. - Scalability: Want your website to be comfortable on any screen size? Make
rem
the lynchpin and see it shine. - Easier maintenance: Change your mind often? Use
rem
for easier updates to text and layout.
px
meets rem
: a thrilling saga
In the stylish world of CSS, mixing px
and rem
brings old and new together, leading to a beautiful cocktail of flexibility and control:
Frameworks like Bootstrap 4 have embraced rem
as the future of scalable layouts.
It's not all sunshine and rainbows 🌈☔
Keep an eye out for oddities like Safari's font-size bug involving media queries and rem
. Otherwise, you might get a nasty surprise.
Tools to Help You Decide
Simplifying with CSS Preprocessors
Modern preprocessors like Sass or Less are wizards in taming rem
and px
. Define variables or mixins, make your media queries neat and tidy, and bring order to the chaos of unit conversion:
Dynamic scaling
Harness the power of rem
by adjusting the root font-size for site-wide scaling:
Remember the User
Unit selection should put user experience front and center. Always consider user-adjustable settings like zoom and font-size preferences. Adaptable and change-loving, rem
is a winner for user-focused design.
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