Resetting CSS margin and padding is a common technique to remove the default spacing between elements and create a consistent layout across browsers. There are different ways to achieve this, depending on your preference and needs. Here are some of the most popular methods:
- The universal selector method: This method uses the * selector to target all elements and set their margin and padding to zero. For example:
This method is simple and effective, but it may have some drawbacks, such as affecting the default styles of some elements (e.g. buttons, inputs, etc.) or overriding the margin and padding of pseudo-elements (e.g. ::before, ::after, etc.).
- The box-sizing method: This method uses the box-sizing property to change how the width and height of elements are calculated. By setting box-sizing to border-box, the padding and border of elements are included in their width and height, instead of adding to them. For example:
This method does not affect the margin of elements, so you may still need to reset it separately. However, it can make it easier to work with elements that have padding and border, as you don't need to worry about their actual size. This method is also recommended by some experts as a modern approach to CSS layout.
- The reset stylesheet method: This method uses a separate CSS file that contains rules to reset the margin, padding, and other styles of various elements. For example, you can use a popular reset stylesheet like [Normalize.css] or [Eric Meyer's Reset CSS]. To use this method, you need to link the reset stylesheet before your own stylesheet in your HTML file. For example:
This method can provide more control and customization over the reset styles, as you can choose which elements and properties to reset. It can also help with cross-browser compatibility and accessibility issues.
There is no definitive answer to which method is the best, as each one has its own advantages and disadvantages. You may need to experiment with different methods and see what works best for your project and preferences. I hope this helps you understand more about resetting CSS margin and padding.
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Reset CSS
- Normalize.css
https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/normalize/8.0.1/normalize.css
https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/normalize/8.0.1/normalize.min.css
- Eric Meyer's Reset CSS
https://meyerweb.com/eric/tools/css/reset/