CSS on page or remote?

**MightyMaster** · 02-03-2005, 10:28 AM

What is the general thought on having the CSS in the actual page rather than a <link rel="stylesheet" href="http://natesplace.hypermart.net/gop/basics/style.css">

**SilatPupil** · 02-03-2005, 10:42 AM

I keep mine in an external file. Its quicker I think.

**ibbo** · 02-03-2005, 11:17 AM

Negative:

Each page may have repeating CSS .

Positive:
You can tailor your CSS elements to your pages requirements.

All in all:
Mine sit in a folder where theya re linked in.
If i need some minor adjustments for that page only then i overide the style via style="".

Ibbo

**CasaPages** · 02-03-2005, 11:24 AM

you can use external CSS files and use classes and divsions to make different items appear different on the same page. Such as say links, you can have the default "a" be the set standard for your site. Now what if say you want a different link functionality in another spot on the same page, well then you can simply use divisions and have "#TheDivIDhere a" in the style sheet to make that link different... Basically Im finding that having external style sheets much easier to manage and create.

**MightyMaster** · 02-03-2005, 11:31 AM

I guess my question is ... is there a difference in the load time of the site based on where the css is located? Would my page load faster if I included the style information right on the page or link out to it?

**SilatPupil** · 02-03-2005, 11:42 AM

Link out is faster i find, as after it is linked to once, it is cached for quicker delivery next time.....

**Minaki** · 02-03-2005, 11:57 AM

It all depends on the scope of the CSS. If you know the CSS is going to only ever apply to that page, keep in within the <head> section. It'll load faster because the client doesn't have to make another request to the server.

If the CSS is going to be applied to more than one page, use a link option. That way updates will only have to be done once, and as SilatPupil said, the document will be cached. You may want to use @import instead of Link, to hide CSS from older browsers (they won't even download it). Depends what you're doing with it though...

Don't forget you can also use inline styles, by setting the style attrbute
<div style="border: 1px solid red;">
but use them with care otherwise your page gets messy. Usefull for testing what CSS looks like quickly before moving it somewhere else...

**TaylorAtCTS** · 02-03-2005, 04:28 PM

I always have mine in an external file for two big reasons...

1) Load times.. once the CSS is cached once users don't have to reload the file.

2) Easy Changes.. I can change things sitewide simply changing one file. Pretty smooooth

I reccomened using an external CSS file.. much better IMO

**troatie** · 02-03-2005, 04:47 PM

I keep mine external simply because it makes my source code purty!

**log2** · 02-04-2005, 07:05 AM

that's a good reason, that's why i do it too... and I find it easier to edit afterwards