A CSS framework is a software library allowing for easier, more standards-compliant web design using Cascading Style Sheets. Most of these frameworks contain at least a grid. More functional frameworks also come with more features and additional JavaScript based functions, but are mostly design oriented and focused around interactive UI patterns. This detail differentiates CSS frameworks from other JavaScript frameworks.
Two notable and widely used examples are Bootstrap and Foundation.
Modules and tools offered by CSS frameworks include:
- reset style sheet
- grid, especially for responsive web design
- web typography
- set of icons in sprites or icon fonts
- styling for tooltips, buttons, elements of forms
- parts of graphical user interfaces such as accordion, tabs, slideshow or modal windows (Lightbox)
- equalizer to create equal height content
- often-used CSS helper classes (left, hide)
Bigger frameworks use a CSS interpreter such as Less or Sass.
List of notable CSS frameworks
| Name | Latest release | License | Grid | Units | Features | No. of columns | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| version | date | ||||||
| Blueprint | 1.0.1 | May 14, 20111 | MIT License | Typography, forms, print, plugins for buttons, tabs, and sprites. | |||
| Bootstrap | 5.3.8 | August 26, 2025234 | MIT License (Apache License prior to 3.1.0) |
fixed, fluid, responsive | px, % | Layout, typography, forms, buttons, navigation, media queries, .sass files, JavaScript libraries, RTL layout. | Any, default 125 |
| Foundation | 6.9.0 | September 28, 20246 | MIT License | fluid | px, % | Responsive layout, source ordering, typography, forms, buttons, navigation, media queries, and JavaScript libraries. | Any, default 127 |
| YAML | 4.1.2 | July 28, 20138 | CC-BY 2.0 | fixed, elastic, fluid | px, em, % | Layout, grids, columns, forms, buttons, progressive linearization for responsive layouts, float handling, navigation, typography, accessibility, and add-ons. (accessible tabs, RTL-support, and microformats) | Any |
| YUI CSS grids | 3.18.1 | October 22, 20149 | BSD-3 | fixed and fluid | |||
| Tailwind | 4.3.0 | May 09, 20261011 | MIT License | fixed, fluid, responsive | Any | ||
References
References
- "Releases · joshuaclayton/blueprint-css · GitHub". GitHub. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
This repository has been archived by the owner. It is now read-only.
- "Releases · twbs/bootstrap · GitHub". GitHub. Archived from the original on 2014-06-01. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
- Déramond, Julien (2024-02-20). "Bootstrap 5.3.3". blog.getbootstrap.com. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
- "bootstrap". npm. 2024-02-20. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
- Bootstrap documentation - Customizing the grid
- "Releases · foundation/foundation-sites · GitHub". GitHub. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
- Foundation documentation - The Grid
- "Releases · yamlcss/yaml · GitHub". GitHub. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
- "Releases · yui/yui3 · GitHub". GitHub. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
- "Releases · tailwindlabs/tailwindcss". GitHub. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
- "tailwindcss". npm. 2024-03-27. Retrieved 2024-04-11.