Tailwind CSS is a CSS framework that has become very popular, with over 70k stars on Github.
Sergio Vergara
Sergio Vergara
November 27, 2023 — 4 minutes reading time
Why is Tailwind CSS so popular?
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Since the dawn of the web, CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) has played a vital role in web development, adding the stylistic flair that separates boring, static pages from vibrant, interactive sites.
Over the years, various CSS frameworks and effective kuwait mobile numbers list approaches, such as Bootstrap and BEM (Block-Element-Model) have offered developers convenience and speed. However, there is one new framework that is coming into its own: Tailwind CSS . Since its initial release in 2017, Tailwind has gained massive popularity among developers. But what sets Tailwind CSS apart from other approaches?
Flexibility: Tailwind > Bootstrap
When using conventional CSS frameworks like Bootstrap or component libraries like Material UI, components come pre-styled. This feature, while convenient, is incredibly restrictive, especially when developers are working with professional designers who require a lot of customization, responsiveness, and interactivity in apps and sites.
Tailwind CSS introduced a new paradigm: utility first. Instead of struggling with overbearing default styles, we now start with basic HTML (or JSX) and build our layouts from scratch, applying classes that directly correspond to CSS properties but are much shorter to write, especially for media queries. Initially, this granular control seems strange, but it offers developers unparalleled flexibility.
Customizing pre-built components to fit a unique design can be a huge struggle. In my experience, unless the designer is already comfortable with whatever pre-built approach they are using, the developer will not save time by using pre-built components.
Even worse is the feeling of trying to implement a whole new design system using a clunky tool like Material UI and others. It seems great at first, but once you get past the prototyping stage, you'll start having design nightmares.
To address this issue, Tailwind CSS provides a highly customizable system. With the help of the configuration file, tailwind.config.js , developers can adjust the framework’s default theme, define colors, spacing, custom font sizes, and more. This customization framework makes it easy to create unique layouts without deviating from the framework’s philosophy.
More importantly, Tailwind CSS provides pre-built templates for a design system. Want a darker pink? Forget hex codes; you’re simply going to swap out bg-pink-400 (Barbie) for a slightly darker bg-pink-500. It’s that easy.
The Transformation: Functional CSS to Tailwind CSS
As the Tailwind project progressed, it became clear that the term “functional CSS” was too generic for such a unique framework and approach. Thus, in early 2018, it was rebranded as “Tailwind CSS.” The name was an apt metaphor for the mission: to create a tool that will help professional developers seamlessly navigate through the many variables and options of CSS.
Since its official change and launch, Tailwind CSS has been growing exponentially in popularity. The adoption of the framework has been aided by its developer-centric design and an active community of developers who regularly contribute to its ecosystem. The launch of Tailwind UI in 2020 was a major milestone that provided a vast library of ready-to-use components, further enhancing the framework’s appeal.