- What is CSS?
- What is CSS for?
- CSS syntax
- CSS modules
- CSS specifications
- Browser support information
- Summary
- Found a content problem with this page?
- What channel is CSS CST on directv?
- How can I watch Cox Sports?
- Can you cast contour?
- How can I watch TV everywhere?
- Can you download apps on contour?
- What is Cox Cable contour?
What is CSS?
CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) allows you to create great-looking web pages, but how does it work under the hood? This article explains what CSS is with a simple syntax example and also covers some key terms about the language.
Prerequisites: | Basic computer literacy, basic software installed, basic knowledge of working with files, and HTML basics (study Introduction to HTML.) |
---|---|
Objective: | To learn what CSS is. |
In the Introduction to HTML module, we covered what HTML is and how it is used to mark up documents. These documents will be readable in a web browser. Headings will look larger than regular text, paragraphs break onto a new line and have space between them. Links are colored and underlined to distinguish them from the rest of the text. What you are seeing are the browser’s default styles — very basic styles — that the browser applies to HTML to make sure that the page will be basically readable even if no explicit styling is specified by the author of the page.
However, the web would be a boring place if all websites looked like that. Using CSS, you can control exactly how HTML elements look in the browser, presenting your markup using whatever design you like.
For more on browser/default styles, check out the following video:
What is CSS for?
As we have mentioned before, CSS is a language for specifying how documents are presented to users — how they are styled, laid out, etc.
A document is usually a text file structured using a markup language — HTML is the most common markup language, but you may also come across other markup languages such as SVG or XML.
Presenting a document to a user means converting it into a form usable by your audience. Browsers, like Firefox, Chrome, or Edge, are designed to present documents visually, for example, on a computer screen, projector, or printer.
Note: A browser is sometimes called a user agent, which basically means a computer program that represents a person inside a computer system. Browsers are the main type of user agents we think of when talking about CSS, however, they are not the only ones. There are other user agents available, such as those that convert HTML and CSS documents into PDFs to be printed.
CSS can be used for very basic document text styling — for example, for changing the color and size of headings and links. It can be used to create a layout — for example, turning a single column of text into a layout with a main content area and a sidebar for related information. It can even be used for effects such as animation. Have a look at the links in this paragraph for specific examples.
CSS syntax
CSS is a rule-based language — you define the rules by specifying groups of styles that should be applied to particular elements or groups of elements on your web page.
For example, you can decide to have the main heading on your page to be shown as large red text. The following code shows a very simple CSS rule that would achieve the styling described above:
h1 color: red; font-size: 5em; >
- In the above example, the CSS rule opens with a selector. This selects the HTML element that we are going to style. In this case, we are styling level one headings (h1).
- We then have a set of curly braces < >.
- Inside the braces will be one or more declarations, which take the form of property and value pairs. We specify the property ( color in the above example) before the colon, and we specify the value of the property after the colon ( red in this example).
- This example contains two declarations, one for color and the other for font-size . Each pair specifies a property of the element(s) we are selecting (h1 in this case), then a value that we’d like to give the property.
CSS properties have different allowable values, depending on which property is being specified. In our example, we have the color property, which can take various color values. We also have the font-size property. This property can take various size units as a value.
A CSS stylesheet will contain many such rules, written one after the other.
h1 color: red; font-size: 5em; > p color: black; >
You will find that you quickly learn some values, whereas others you will need to look up. The individual property pages on MDN give you a quick way to look up properties and their values when you forget or when you want to know what else you can use as a value.
Note: You can find links to all the CSS property pages (along with other CSS features) listed on the MDN CSS reference. Alternatively, you should get used to searching for «mdn css-feature-name» in your favorite search engine whenever you need to find out more information about a CSS feature. For example, try searching for «mdn color» and «mdn font-size»!
CSS modules
As there are so many things that you could style using CSS, the language is broken down into modules. You’ll see reference to these modules as you explore MDN. Many of the documentation pages are organized around a particular module. For example, you could take a look at the MDN reference to the Backgrounds and Borders module to find out what its purpose is and the properties and features it contains. In that module, you will also find a link to Specifications that defines the technology (also see the section below).
At this stage, you don’t need to worry too much about how CSS is structured; however, it can make it easier to find information if, for example, you are aware that a certain property is likely to be found among other similar things, and is therefore, probably in the same specification.
For a specific example, let’s go back to the Backgrounds and Borders module — you might think that it makes logical sense for the background-color and border-color properties to be defined in this module. And you’d be right.
CSS specifications
All web standards technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, etc.) are defined in giant documents called specifications (or «specs»), which are published by standards organizations (such as the W3C, WHATWG, ECMA, or Khronos) and define precisely how those technologies are supposed to behave.
CSS is no different — it is developed by a group within the W3C called the CSS Working Group. This group is made of representatives of browser vendors and other companies who have an interest in CSS. There are also other people, known as invited experts, who act as independent voices; they are not linked to a member organization.
New CSS features are developed or specified by the CSS Working Group — sometimes because a particular browser is interested in having some capability, other times because web designers and developers are asking for a feature, and sometimes because the Working Group itself has identified a requirement. CSS is constantly developing, with new features becoming available. However, a key thing about CSS is that everyone works very hard to never change things in a way that would break old websites. A website built in 2000, using the limited CSS available then, should still be usable in a browser today!
As a newcomer to CSS, it is likely that you will find the CSS specs overwhelming — they are intended for engineers to use to implement support for the features in user agents, not for web developers to read to understand CSS. Many experienced developers would much rather refer to MDN documentation or other tutorials. Nevertheless, it is worth knowing that these specs exist and understanding the relationship between the CSS you are using, the browser support (see below), and the specs.
Browser support information
After a CSS feature has been specified, then it is only useful for us in developing web pages if one or more browsers have implemented the feature. This means that the code has been written to turn the instruction in our CSS file into something that can be output to the screen. We’ll look at this process more in the lesson How CSS works. It is unusual for all browsers to implement a feature at the same time, and so there is usually a gap where you can use some part of CSS in some browsers and not in others. For this reason, being able to check implementation status is useful.
The browser support status is shown on every MDN CSS property page in a table named «Browser compatibility». Consult the information in that table to check if the property can be used on your website. For an example, see the browser compatibility table for the CSS font-family property.
Based on your requirements, you can use the browser compatibility table to check how this property is supported across various browsers, or check if your specific browser and the version you have support the property, or if there are any caveats you should be aware of for the browser and version you are using.
Summary
You made it to the end of the article! Now that you have some understanding of what CSS is, let’s move on to Getting started with CSS, where you can start to write some CSS yourself.
Found a content problem with this page?
What channel is CSS CST on directv?
CSS is not on DirecTV or Dish Network. CSS is owned by Comcast/Charter Cable companies.
What channel is CMT on directv?
What channel is Fox News Live on directv?
How can I watch Cox Sports?
With Cox TV Online, you can access TV content from your computer or mobile device anytime from any U.S. location with internet access from the website watchtv.cox.com or by using the Contour App.
Can I watch contour on my smart TV?
Is there an app for Roku, Apple TV, or Amazon Fire TV? The Contour app is currently not available on these smart TV devices. However, you can download and use channel-specific apps (e.g. ESPN, DisneyNow, Fox Sports Go, HBO Max, etc.) using your Cox account credentials.
What devices support Cox contour?
Type | Operating System(s) |
---|---|
Apple iOS | iOS 12 or later |
Android | Android OS 7.0 or later |
Apple | Mac OS X 10.7 or higher |
PC | Windows 8 or higher |
Can you cast contour?
Screen mirroring or casting is the only alternative way to watch Cox Contour on TV. To casting or mirroring Cox Contour, you need to install this app on android smartphone or Chrome browser.
Can I watch Cox cable without a box?
Hi christophe, we do have a limited number of channels available without a cable box. Usually, you have to go into the TVs setup menu and tell it to scan for new channels/add new channels. Check your cable connection first to make sure it is tightly connected.
Can I watch Cox cable on my smart TV?
With your network subscriptions from Cox, you can watch live, watch later, or On Demand while at home or on-the-go as part of the Contour app and TV Everywhere experience. The following networks are currently available to watch using the Contour app outside your home.
How can I watch TV everywhere?
Almost all WatchTVEverywhere programs are available on all devices (PC, laptop, iPad, iPhone, Android phone)….How do I use WatchTVEverywhere?
- You will be asked to:
- Click on Register.
- Now, check the email address you just provided.
- You are done and can begin to enjoy WatchTVEverywhere.
How do I log into contour receiver?
Signing in to YouTube App
- Access and launch the YouTube app from your Contour 2 receiver.
- Navigate to Settings located in the upper right corner.
- Select Sign Up or Log In from the list of options on the left. Result: An Activation Code displays.
- Activate your account from another device.
Can I watch contour on my laptop?
Just get Contour TV and start streaming your favorite shows and movies anytime, anywhere—right from your mobile phone, tablet or laptop.
Can you download apps on contour?
Download your favorite network apps on your phone or tablet. Choose Cox as your provider. Sign in with your My Account login info. Remember, apps labeled TV GO are available through the Contour app (other apps will need to be downloaded)
Does Roku work with Cox Cable?
You can’t add anything to your Cox service. Besides providing you Internet service, Cox has nothing to do with Roku, Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, etc. Therefore no device you connect to your TV would recognize your cable box.
How do I connect my Cox WIFI to my TV?
Tap Quick Settings or Wireless….Refer to your device owner’s manual for specific steps.
- Tap Scan to search for available networks.
- Tap your network name from the list of available SSIDs.
- Enter the network password.
- Tap Connect.
What is Cox Cable contour?
Contour TV Starter Top broadcast networks like CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, PBS, and CW. Your choice of one premium channel included for 12 months. 50 commercial-free Music Choice channels. See here for the full 75+ channel lineup. Easy access to popular subscription apps like Netflix, Prime Video and Peacock.
What is the best Cox cable package?
term agrmt. Internet Preferred 150 and Gigablast are the best of Cox’s packages.
What is the best Internet and TV bundle?
5 Best Cable TV and Internet Bundles
- Xfinity: Best for most.
- Cox: Best range of download speeds.
- Suddenlink: Best for no-contract options.
- Spectrum: Best for included premium channels.
- RCN: Best prices in the Northeast.