What is CSS and why is it important to learn about?

Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) are sets of instructions for how different parts of web pages should be displayed for users. In contrast to HTML, which defines the elements that structure a web page including headlines, paragraphs, images, and links, CSS defines the “style” of how these elements look, including layouts, colors, fonts, and other aspects. Because the web is inherently a visual medium, a mastery of CSS is an important part of designing an impactful web page. User expectations for web design and thus CSS have come a long way since the 1990s, with the need to ensure that pages display properly on a variety of mobile devices as well as web browsers. There is also a growing recognition that web accessibility for users with disabilities must be a design priority, adding complexity to CSS considerations. The use of CSS frameworks such as Bootstrap has become increasingly popular to simplify the process of making responsive web designs that adjust to different browsers and user needs.

What kinds of careers can I have with a background in CSS?

Along with HTML and JavaScript, expertise in CSS is one of the most fundamental skills you need for a career in web development. Demand for web developers to design and build websites has grown steadily along with the growth of the World Wide Web itself, and having high-level CSS skills and a sharp design sense can make your portfolio stand out from the crowd. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), web developers earned a median annual salary of $73,760 in 2019 and jobs in this field expected to grow “much faster than average,” making this a well-paid and high-growth career path.

Can I learn about CSS by taking online courses on Coursera?

Absolutely! Learning on Coursera is a popular way to build a wide range of web development skills, including CSS as well as the use of CSS frameworks like Bootstrap. You can take courses and Specializations spanning multiple courses from top-ranked schools like Johns Hopkins University, University of Michigan, and Duke University. With the Coursera Project Network, you can also develop your CSS skills by completing step-by-step tutorials alongside experienced instructors with Guided Projects.

What skills or experience do I need to already have, before starting to learn CSS?

A skill you will need to already have before learning CSS is the ability to code in the HTML language. You may also want to have some basic knowledge of what CSS does aesthetically for a website, such as specifying its style, page layouts, colors, and fonts.

How do I know if learning CSS is right for me?

Learning CSS may be right for you if you want to design complex layouts with unique fonts and customized color schemes. If you want to learn how to write CSS rules and how to test code so that the site you design works for people of all cognitive and physical abilities, learning CSS may be right for you.

What are common career paths for someone in CSS?

A common career path for someone who knows CSS, as well as HTML, is to begin as a junior or entry-level web developer by building simple static websites, coding email templates, and working with experienced developers on larger projects as you hone your skills. As you learn more about CSS and other tech skills you can enter common career paths in front-end development, back-end development, web design, visual design, and digital marketing. Knowing CSS may also be helpful if you choose to enter a career path as a digital content editor or producer or manage social media client accounts. Other common career paths you can find with a background in CSS might be a WordPress developer or webmaster.

What topics can I study that are related to CSS?

There are many topics related to CSS that you can study, including learning JavaScript and other scripting languages for web page interactivity, DOM to be able to modify pages, and responsive web design so that a site can be seen and accessed on various devices. You might also want to study the related topic of the Django web framework and Django template language so you can incorporate that into your web designs.

What types of places hire people with a background in CSS?

Even if you only know the fundamental skills of CSS and HTML, some places will hire you with that background, such as a restaurant that may hire you to create a static online menu. A local business can hire you to build some sales pages or a landing page, and a business might need your skills to create email templates for platforms such as Mailchimp. A business or company may need to hire someone with your background in CSS to customize a WordPress or Squarespace site, keep a blog maintained, or create simple online marketing campaigns.

What are the benefits of taking an online Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) course?

Online CSS courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new CSS skills. Choose from a wide range of CSS courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What CSS courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in CSS, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Top CSS Courses - Learn CSS Online

Explore the CSS Course Catalog

Universidade de São Paulo
UX / UI: Fundamentos para o design de interface
Skills you'll gain: Usability Testing, Usability, Wireframing, Information Architecture, User Interface (UI) Design, UI Components, User Experience Design, Prototyping, User Research, Style Guides, Persona (User Experience), Design Elements And Principles, Cross Platform Development, Responsive Web Design
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
779 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Board Infinity
.NET FullStack Developer
Skills you'll gain: Model View Controller, ASP.NET, .NET Framework, Restful API, C# (Programming Language), Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Front-End Web Development, JSON, Web Services, Application Frameworks, Web Applications, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Javascript, Web Design and Development, React.js, JavaScript Frameworks, Application Programming Interface (API), Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), Back-End Web Development, Programming Principles
4.1
Rating, 4.1 out of 5 stars
282 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
University of Michigan
Building Web Applications in Django
Skills you'll gain: Django (Web Framework), Object-Relational Mapping, Model View Controller, SQL, Databases, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Web Applications, Data Modeling, Application Security, Web Development, Python Programming, HTML and CSS
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
769 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Scrimba
Learn Accessible Web Design
Skills you'll gain: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Web Design, Usability, HTML and CSS, User Interface (UI), Typography, Color Theory
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
6 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Virginia
Coding for Designers, Managers, and Entrepreneurs
Skills you'll gain: User Story, HTML and CSS, Debugging, Model View Controller, Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Prototyping, Application Programming Interface (API), Javascript, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), Web Design and Development, Web Applications, User Interface (UI), Interactive Design, Javascript and jQuery, Maintainability, User Centered Design, Team Oriented, Wireframing, Web Development Tools, Business Logic
4.2
Rating, 4.2 out of 5 stars
71 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
NIIT
Building Interactive Web Pages Using Modern JavaScript
Skills you'll gain: JSON, Javascript, Ajax, Web Development Tools, Software Testing, Unit Testing, Scripting, Front-End Web Development, Development Testing, Event-Driven Programming, Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Scripting Languages, Data Validation, Data Structures, Restful API, Performance Tuning, Network Protocols, Verification And Validation
3.7
Rating, 3.7 out of 5 stars
11 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of California, Irvine
iOS Development for Creative Entrepreneurs
Skills you'll gain: Swift Programming, Objective-C (Programming Language), iOS Development, Core Data (Software), Apple iOS, Apple Xcode, Model View Controller, JSON, User Interface (UI) Design, UI Components, User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, OAuth, Responsive Web Design, Prototyping, Human Computer Interaction, UI/UX Strategy, Usability Testing, Authentications, Data Mapping, Mobile Development
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
709 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Meta
Desarrollador front-end de Meta
Skills you'll gain: User Research, UI/UX Research, Persona (User Experience), Jest (JavaScript Testing Framework), Responsive Web Design, Design Research, Bootstrap (Front-End Framework), Version Control, User Experience Design, Unix Commands, Front-End Web Development, Usability, Web Design, React.js, Javascript, Interaction Design, HTML and CSS, Algorithms, Mobile Development, Pseudocode
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
397 reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Meta
React Native
Skills you'll gain: React Native, Mobile Development, Cross Platform Development, UI Components, Mobile Development Tools, iOS Development, React.js, Front-End Web Development, Android Development, JavaScript Frameworks, User Interface (UI), Development Environment
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
342 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Google
Google UX Design (PT)
Skills you'll gain: Adobe XD, User Experience Design, Usability Testing, Figma (Design Software), Responsive Web Design, Wireframing, Information Architecture, User Experience, Prototyping, UI/UX Research, Presentations, Design Reviews, User Story, Storyboarding, Ideation, Mockups, Software Documentation, Experience Design, User Research, Design Research
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
2.5K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free
Scrimba
Learn to code with AI
Skills you'll gain: Front-End Web Development, User Interface (UI) Design, Mobile Development, Version Control, GitHub, HTML and CSS, ChatGPT, Web Development, Prototyping, Interactive Design, Application Development, Web Applications, JavaScript Frameworks, Databases, Artificial Intelligence
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
103 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of London
Introduction to Meteor.js Development
Skills you'll gain: MongoDB, JavaScript Frameworks, Web Development Tools, Web Applications, Web Development, Database Application, User Accounts, Application Security, Package and Software Management, Javascript, Software Installation
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
1.2K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months