How do you link to external stylesheets and scripts? If you want to create a consistent and interactive web page, you need to use external files that contain the style and functionality of your HTML elements. In this article, you will learn how to link to external stylesheets and scripts using the <link> and <script> tags, and what are the benefits and best practices of doing so.
External stylesheets and scripts are files that contain CSS and JavaScript code respectively. CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheets, and it is used to define the appearance and layout of HTML elements. JavaScript is a programming language that can add dynamic and interactive features to your web page, such as animations, validations, and events. By using external files, you can separate the content, style, and functionality of your web page, and make it easier to maintain and reuse.
External Stylesheets: Think of these as separate files where you put all your website's design instructions (like colors, fonts, layouts). It's like having a master blueprint for how your website should look. To use them, you tell your HTML where to find this blueprint. External Scripts: These are like extra brains for your website. They're separate files with special instructions (usually in JavaScript) that make your website do cool things, like interactive buttons or dynamic content. You also link them in your HTML to let your website know where to find these extra smarts.
An external style sheet is a separate file where you can declare all the styles that you want to use on your website. You then link to the external style sheet from all your HTML pages. This means if you want to update the style of your website, you only need to do it in one place. External Script is when the JavaScript (script) is written in another file having an extension .js and then we link this file inside the <head> or<body> tag of our HTML file in which the code is to be added. The use of external JS is more practical when the same code is to be used in many different web pages. Using an external script is easy , just put the name of the script file(.js file) in the src (source) attribute of <script> tag.
1- The external stylesheets it's a separate file that contain the CSS code and its's responsible to decorate and style your HTML web page by giving it colors, layout, animation, etc... 2- The external scripts it's a separate file that contain the JavaScript code and it's responsible to give more functionality to your HTML web page by giving it a dynamic and interactive features such as animations (with more functionality than the CSS) & client-side validations (it work on client device before sending the request to the server). - In conclusion we link both of them to the HTML file to make the 3 work together to give the full functionality of your web page. Think of them as the bones (HTML), muscles (JS) and skin (CSS) of your website!
External stylesheets and scripts are files that are separate from your HTML document but are linked to it in order to provide styling or functionality to your web page. You can add external stylesheet by using <link> element within the <head> section of your html. In same way you can add scripts (JS) using the <script> element
To link to an external script, you need to use the <script> tag inside the <head> or <body> section of your HTML document. The <script> tag has one mandatory attribute: src. The src attribute specifies the URL or path of the linked file, which can be absolute or relative.
To link to an external stylesheet, you need to use the <link> tag inside the <head> section of your HTML document. The <link> tag has two mandatory attributes: rel and href. The rel attribute specifies the relationship between the current document and the linked file, which should be "stylesheet" for CSS files. The href attribute specifies the URL or path of the linked file, which can be absolute or relative. For example, <link rel="stylesheet" href="style.css"> links to a CSS file named style.css in the same folder as the HTML document.
There are two ways to link external stylesheets. Option 1 <link rel="stylesheet" href="styles1.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="styles2.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="styles3.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="styles4.css"> Option 2 <style> @import url("main.css"); </style> Contents of the main.css file @import "styles1.css"; @import "styles2.css"; @import "styles3.css"; @import "styles4.css"; Option 3 Combination of options 1 and 2.
The <link> HTML element specifies relationships between the current document and an external resource. This element is most commonly used to link to stylesheets, but is also used to establish site icons (both "favicon" style icons and icons for the home screen and apps on mobile devices) among other things. Example: <link href="main.css" rel="stylesheet" /> <link rel="preload" href="myFont.woff2" as="font" type="font/woff2" crossorigin="anonymous" /> The href attribute can be an absolute link or relative.
To link to an external script, you need to use the <script> tag inside the <head> or <body> section of your HTML document. The <script> tag has one mandatory attribute: src. The src attribute specifies the URL or path of the linked file, which can be absolute or relative. For example, <script src="script.js"></script> links to a JavaScript file named script.js in the same folder as the HTML document. Note that the <script> tag does not need a closing tag if it has a src attribute.
Placing scripts at the end of the HTML document, just before the closing </body> tag, enhances page rendering by ensuring content is displayed promptly, even if scripts are still loading. This approach minimizes render-blocking, where scripts delay page rendering. It's especially valuable for non-essential scripts, such as analytics or tracking code, optimizing overall webpage performance and user experience. This strategy strikes a balance between functionality and speed, benefiting both developers and site visitors.
Don't forget that your JavaScript links can be more or less effective depending on where they fall in your HTML. It's very possible to ruin a setup by linking your JS at the beginning of your page instead of your end - or vice versa!
Linking to external stylesheets and scripts offers several advantages for web development and performance. It simplifies the HTML document, making it easier to read and edit, while also enabling you to apply the same style and functionality to multiple web pages, thus saving time and ensuring consistency. Moreover, updating the style and functionality of your web page without modifying the HTML document prevents errors and conflicts. Additionally, it enhances the loading speed and efficiency of your web page as the browser can cache the external files and reuse them for subsequent requests.
Linking to external stylesheets and scripts benefits websites in several ways: Organization: Keeps HTML, CSS, and JavaScript separate for clarity. Reuse: Allows code to be used across multiple pages. Caching: Speeds up site loading by storing files in browsers. Efficiency: Reduces redundant code in HTML files. Updates: Makes it easy to update site-wide elements. Development: Simplifies teamwork and independent development. Third-party tools: Eases integration of external libraries. Maintainability: Facilitates troubleshooting and code reviews. Version control: Better tracking and collaboration with Git. Load times: Optimizes by loading essential content first.
Linking to external stylesheets and scripts benefits: 1. code readability 2. code Maintainability 3. seperation of concerns 4. ease in knowlegde transfer
When linking to external stylesheets and scripts, you should follow some best practices to optimize your web development and performance. Descriptive and meaningful names, such as style.css and script.js, should be used rather than generic names like main.css and index.js. The <link> tag should be placed before the <script> tag in the <head> section of your HTML document, and the defer attribute should be used in the <script> tag to defer the loading of the script until the HTML document is parsed. Additionally, minifying and compressing external files with tools such as CSS Minifier and JS Compressor can reduce their size and bandwidth usage.
Use <link> for styles, <script> for scripts. Place scripts near </body> for speed. async or defer for efficient script loading. Minify CSS/JS for faster loading. Consider CDNs for popular libraries. Specify type="text/javascript" for compatibility. Add integrity and cross-origin for security. Version resources with query parameters. Optimize for mobile devices. Test on various browsers and devices. Check for broken resource links. Set caching headers for quicker returns.
Minify the CSS and JS files when they work correctly and no major edit needs. Writing clean code with a comment so other programmers can change the file easily. Always consider the mobile devices and make your codes optimize for mobile
When linking to a JavaScript file, I add the attribute "defer" to it so that the HTML and CSS would load first for visitors to have something to interact with before the JavaScript file is done parsing. Here is how to do it: <script src="source" defer> // your JavaScript here </script> Note that the defer attribute is a boolean, you can witehr set it to true or false... but if you ordinary use "defer", it means you have set the to true. e.g defer="true" Using defer will help your web page load faster.
In today's tech landscape, numerous libraries and frameworks promise quick software development. However, these often come with trade-offs. It's essential to recognize and manage these compromises appropriately. Relying heavily on third-party styles and scripts might bog down your site. Regularly employ tools like Google's Lighthouse to gauge site performance and identify areas for refinement.