Cascading Style Sheets: Designing for the Web (2nd Edition) [Paperback]

Hakon Wium Lie (Author), Bert Bos (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0201596253 | ISBN-13: 978-0201596250 | Publication Date: July 13, 1999 | Edition: 2

Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) is a standard that provides an easy and manageable way to add style and layout to Web pages. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) developed it as a companion to HTML and XML. Written by the inventors of CSS, this book contains tutorials on CSS, HTML and XML with simple examples and makeover documents as well as detailed information on both CSS level 1 and 2. It is the perfect introduction to CSS for beginning writers of Web pages, and the definitive guide for professional Web designers.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

For readers looking for a one-stop read for all they need to know about cascading style sheets (CSS), Cascading Style Sheets, Second Edition: Designing for the Web really hits the nail on the head. One of the authors--Hakon Wium Lie--was the originator of CSS and is in charge of the technology among the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). His writing partner is Bert Bos--another key member of the W3C currently focusing on style sheets and the Extensible Markup Language (XML). Together, they deliver a truly educational guide to the subject.

This book wisely includes numerous color screen shots and diagrams, as well as many typographic examples, to augment the discussion of the inherently visual topic of CSS. The authors' graphical expertise comes through clearly with visuals that clarify topics without cluttering the presentation.

The coverage goes beyond--or shall we say behind--that found in many other CSS books that focus primarily on the technical features of browsers. For example, the authors take the time to discuss typesetting terminology and font families in order to build a well-rounded knowledge. Despite the presentation of the precise details of the CSS1 and CSS2 specifications, the text is quite easy to read and intriguing to follow. Even if you are familiar with CSS--this is an excellent title to own. --Stephen W. Plain

Topics covered: CSS (levels 1 and 2), HTML, and XML tutorials; plus coverage of which browsers support which CSS elements.

Review

"Some excellent full-colour examples show what CSS can do in the right hands." www.mantex.co.uk, August 2001

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Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional; 2 edition (July 13, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201596253
• ISBN-13: 978-0201596250
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,911,159 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Use this book to CODE, not to DESIGN., July 31, 2000

By 

Cheryl M. Hammond (Seattle, Washington, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Cascading Style Sheets: Designing for the Web (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

This book is an indispensible resource if you've already decided HOW to implement CSS on your site and are looking for the best explanations of CSS selectors and syntax. The sections on typography and block-level elements, in particular, are detailed and extremely helpful (all that typography was much more than I needed to know, but it's good that it's there).

However, do NOT use this book if you haven't decided yet which CSS methods to use and cross-browser compatibility matters to you (or your clients). Each chapter cheerfully explains CSS features the way the creators WISH they would work, without indicating serious bugs or pitfalls you may encounter in the real world when trying to implement them the way they tell you to. The browser support charts are buried in the back -- they barely scratch the surface, especially where Netscape 4.x is concerned.

Making design decisions based on the information in this book could lead to some very unexpected and ugly results. Instead, use O'Reilly's "Cascading Style Sheets: A Definitive Guide", which documents browser compliance much more thoroughly, and turn back to this book as a quick-reference while you code.

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent CSS tutorial and valuable reference., November 29, 2000

By 

steveosan (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cascading Style Sheets: Designing for the Web (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

Prior to purchasing this book, the only things I knew how to do were make links so that they weren't underlined and change the color of some text. The basic, commonplace implementations of Cascading Style Sheets. Well, after hearing more about this rising development in web deisgn, I took an interest in CSS and decided to buy this book. I was not disappointed. It covers every aspect of CSS in a simple yet thorough manner. The quick reference inside the covers is also extremely helpful when you need to find the right CSS tag.

In regard to previous reviewers who say most of this will not be supported in the near future or ever, my response is that yes, it is true true that many of CSS' features will never be fully developed and implemented but if you browse through the actual body of the book, you will find that the bulk of the material covered is either already supported by the major browsers or will be in their next release. Therefore, I feel that it will not be long before the vast majority of this book becomes incredibly useful.

I have borrowed the O'Reilly CSS book and it is also quite good but I feel that this book goes into better detail about each tag and parameter.

I wish I could give it 4 1/2 stars but the reason I have given this book 4 stars instead of 5 is because the author is also the main developer of CSS. Him being so closely involved has both advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is obvious: this guy knows more about CSS than probably anyone in the world. But, due to the same fact, I would say he has a less neutral, more idealistic approach of CSS. That is why several features covered are a few browser versions ahead of their time, which has been the main argument of most people who didn't like this book.

All in all, this book does a superb job at covering every nook and crannie of CSS, from the widely supported to the underdeveloped. One day, technology will catch up to this book and it will be indespensible but until then, it is still the most useful guide to Cascading Style Sheets.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I wouldn't have a job without this book, December 8, 2000

By 

retrostar76 (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cascading Style Sheets: Designing for the Web (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

This book is absolutely indispensable. I don't have any other CSS books and I knew nothing of CSS before I started, but now I know it like the back of my hand. It's not only a great book to learn CSS, but it's also invaluable as a reference tool once you progress. Not one of those books you read then end up only to have to buy a more in-depth book for reference once you have progressed. It's good for everyone, beginner or advanced. Absolutely worth every penny.