Quick Reference
The var() function is used to create a CSS variable and insert the value into a property.
Global Variable:
/* declare the value of the property at a global level */
:root {
--main-black-color: #2d2d2d;
}/* insert the variable value later in the styles and provide a backup value for browsers that can't use variables */
div {
background-color: var(--main-black-color, black);
}Local variable:
/* a variable set locally will override one set globally; #080808 will be used, not #2D2D2D */
@media screen and (max-width: 767px) {
div {
--main-black-color: #080808;
background-color: var(--main-black-color, black);
}
}Note
As shown above, setting a variable locally is often used to set the value within an @media rule which will only take place under specified circumstances (e.g., on a screen smaller than 767px).
Syntax
var(--name, value)Values
| Value | Description |
|---|---|
| name | The variable name; must start with two dashes (required) |
| value | The fallback value; not necessary but should be included |
CSS Notes:
- The “inherit”, “initial” and “unset” keywords can be used with any CSS property to set its value
- In CSS there are many ways to express a color value in a property
We’d like to acknowledge that we learned a great deal of our coding from W3Schools and TutorialsPoint, borrowing heavily from their teaching process and excellent code examples. We highly recommend both sites to deepen your experience, and further your coding journey. We’re just hitting the basics here at 1SMARTchicken.