How tough is CSS

I know HTML and PHP.... how long will CSS take me?

[tmnoonan]

I know HTML and PHP.... how long will it take to learn CSS?

Is it worth it?

Can anyone suggest a good website to go to?

Thanks!

[Demaestro]

It won't take long and it is SOOOOO worth it.

Imagine you have 40 pages that all use a table structure that has a border and grey <th> headings.

Now they want no border and a blue <th> heading.

with CSS you have to change about 4 lines, without.... you do the math.

It is so easy I bet you can guess what this does.

CSS:
tr.Background {
background-color: #660000
}

HTML:
<table>
<tr class="Background">
<td>content</td>
</tr>
</table>

Now if you are calling that in all your tables and you want to lighten or darken you just cchnage the CSS. You can see why it is so nice.

[bbrueck]

SITES:
#*$!.com
csszengarden.com
meyerweb.com
zeldman.com

and this forum!

BOOKS
Stylin' with CSS by Charles Wyke-Smith
Desiging with Web Standards by Jeffrey zeldman (may be an updated book by him by now)

I am a print designer originally but about 5 years ago had to learn to program basic sites. I used tables in dreamweaver and it was okay, I learned a lot through trial and error. For the past year I've been into CSS and it is LOADS more efficient and the outcome is better. You'll pick it up in not time.

[Mr Bo Jangles]

I think there is a bit of a problem with CSS and opinions like the above expressed about how easy it is to learn.
IMO CSS is deceptively easy i.e. easy on the surface - but there are layers - the more you begin to make use of it, and try out your efforts in all browsers and all versions of those browsers, you'll soon find out how much you *don't* know about CSS - and how much you're going to have to learn in order to get a fully compliant site!

[BertieB]

<zenmode>

CSS is a journey, not a destination

</zenmode>

Seriously though, as has been intimated above, CSS can do some very useful things and be very simple. As with anything, the more complex your needs, the more complex the CSS becomes. The trickiest bit, IMHO, is getting the same look across a variety of platforms, despite the various implementations you face.

At the end of the day, CSS will benefit you at every level, no matter how much you have learned.

[Demaestro]

Bo Jangles I know what you are saying, and it is true that the harder the task the more complicated the solution. I can't think of anything where this isn't true though. I wouldn't use that as a reason to not use CSS. It's a fair warning though.

I agree that one of the toughest tasks you will face is getting everything unifrom accross all browsers and platforms however simple examples like the one I gave will not yeild this problem, it is nesting <ul> or floating divs that will give you some trouble. Again the basic stuff works and is easy to use.

Just start small, there is so many things that can make your life so much more simple by using some simple CSS.