6 Reasons to Choose the Bootstrap CSS Framework

6 Reasons to Choose the Bootstrap CSS Framework

For those of you, who like me have been developing websites for few years, we tend to use similar chunks of CSS code that we copy paste from project to project.

Those of you who are more organized may have developed your own set of base CSS files to use as foundation for your projects. This method works, but let’s face it, this is not the most efficient way to do things.

Creating a CSS framework that is flexible, follows latest standards and is thoroughly tested takes days of work and could become a project in itself. Most of us don’t have time to do this.

To make matters worse, with the rise of mobile devices, making responsive websites and keeping up with the latest technologies is time consuming.

Bootstrap and CSS frameworks

Designers need a solid foundation that gives us almost everything a typical website would require but is flexible enough for customization. Thanks to hundreds of hours spent by some developers and companies, we now have dozens of CSS Frameworks to choose from.

Among all the available CSS frameworks out there, Bootstrap is my favorite and also one of the most widely used. It’s included by default in Joomla 3, and is wildly popular amongst WordPress and Drupal users. In the last 3 years, Bootstrap’s popularity grew over 1,000% and has become by far the most popular CSS framework.

So why should you choose Bootstrap? Watch this video below, and then we’ll give you 6 great reasons to use Bootstrap:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpzT-pTImyo

Reason #1. Easy to get started

CSS Pre-processing is great and every front end developer should learn it. However not everyone is using it. There are still many designers creating and managing CSS files the same old way. Bootstrap offers LESS files for those of us who know how to use it, but it also provides the plain old CSS file for those don’t want to use CSS pre-processing.

To take advantage of what Bootstrap has to offer, you just have to download the files from GetBootstrap.cometBootstrap.com and after unzipping, include the files in the head of your HTML document.

This example HTML document includes the bootstrap framework with its default styling and every single components and JavaScript plugins.

Reason #2. Great grid system

Bootstrap is built on responsive 12-column grids, layouts and components. Whether you need a fixed grid or a responsive, its only matter of a few changes. Offsetting & Nesting of columns is also possible in both fixed and fluid width layouts.

Another useful set of features are the responsive utility classes using which you can make a certain block of content appear or hide only on devices based on the size of their screen. Very handy when you want to hide some content based on screen size. Adding a class such as .visible-desktop to a element, will make it visible only for desktop users. There are similar classes for tablets and phones.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceNe37KIjPY&t=1s

Reason #3. Base styling for most HTML elements

A website has many different elements such as headings, lists, tables, buttons, forms, etc. All these fundamental HTML elements have been styled and enhanced with extensible classes.

The HTML elements for which styles are provided are:

  • Typography
  • Code
  • Tables
  • Forms
  • Buttons
  • Images
  • Icons

Reason #4. Extensive list of components

Whether you need drop down menus, pagination or alert boxes, Bootstrap has got your covered. Styling of every single element follows a consistent theme and if you know LESS, then customizing it takes just few minutes.

Some of the components pre styled are:

  • Dropdowns
  • Button Groups
  • Navigation Bar
  • Breadcrumbs
  • Labels & Badges
  • Alerts
  • Progress Bar
  • And many others.

Reason #5. Bundled Javascript plugins

The components such as drop down menu are made interactive with the numerous JavaScript plugins bundled in the bootstrap package.

If you project requires sliders, tabs, accordions, then you no longer have to try and test numerous different plugins across the web. Adding these functionalities is just a matter of adding few lines of code and you are all set. With the customization option you can also choose only certain plugins to keep the file size to a minimum.

Reason #6. Good documentation

Not only does Bootstrap offer styling for almost every element a typical website or web application requires, it also provides a great documentation with examples and demo that only make it more easier for even someone new.

Conclusion

You might be happy with your current custom CSS library, but try using Bootstrap for one project and am sure you would ask yourself how you managed all these years without it.

If you want to learn more about Bootstrap, there are several video classes available:

Author

  • Steve Burge

    Steve is the founder of OSTraining. Originally from the UK, he now lives in Sarasota in the USA. Steve's work straddles the line between teaching and web development.

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pepperstreet
11 years ago

I really wonder why CMS Joomla 3.1.1 does not include the latest BS release ?!?

patvb
11 years ago

Good article, confirms my choice of framework. You say “good documentation,” but it would have been nice to have included a link to this documentation. I’ve been struggling a bit, especially with a different layout for my front page from the rest of the site, and different CSS rules between them as well. I didn’t realize there even was documentation available. Thanks for this article.

Bootply
Bootply
11 years ago

The officiale BS docs are here: [url=http://twitter.github.io/bootstrap/]http://twitter.github.io/bo…[/url]

You might also find [url=http://bootply.com]http://bootply.com[/url] useful for getting started and testing different layouts.

KaraokeAmerica
KaraokeAmerica
11 years ago

Thanks for the cool post! I’m curious if you could elaborate on how these Bootstrap features are implemented in Joomla v3x. For example you have this statement:

“Adding a class such as .visible-desktop to a element, will make it visible only for desktop users. There are similar classes for tablets and phones.”

How about for menu items? Do the classes also apply to those?

Thanks!

WS-Theme
WS-Theme
11 years ago

Bootstrap is too mainstream … nearly every site looks exact like the other one … to avoid this there must be so much overrides to do, in this time we can build a own CSS Framework 😀

I prefer the Foundation Framework, it has also very awesome Functions and Styles!

pepperstreet
11 years ago

Regarding my first comment #1

FYI, current Joomla 3 master is getting BS 2.3.2 updates!

BOOTSTRAP v2 has more GUI / form elements.

FOUNDATION is superior in GRID features

(large and small grids let you keep horizontal positions on smaller devices. Not everything has to be top-down)

Both solutions are very similar. IMHO.

patvb
11 years ago

@steve, do you mean the main menu? I don’t see any links referring to the documentation, but I do appreciate you including it down here in comments.

Ramya
Ramya
11 years ago

Thanks for the article.. Let me start using the Bootstrap and also learn LESS.

How about Twitter Bootstrap? Is it like advanced features provided in that?

kasra
kasra
10 years ago

Your site is not only informative but also educates them have not seen in any book. Extremely happy that I found a site for learning CSS., But I see a flaw in your work. Not on your site that is ., please try

to update the site. Thanks.[url=%20http://motarjemgroup.ir]ترجمه انگلیسی به فارسی[/url]

melina-touke
melina-touke
10 years ago

this

site is

not only informative but also educates them

have not seen in any

book. Extremely happy

that I found a site for learning CSS.,

But I see a flaw

in your work. Not on your site that

is ., please try

to update the site. Thanks.[url=%20http://motarjemgroup.ir]ترجمه انگلیسی به فارسی[/url]

Mohanraj
Mohanraj
10 years ago

nice post

Bootply
Bootply
10 years ago

There are also a LOT more tools for Bootstrap. We created Bootply ([url=http://bootply.com]http://bootply.com[/url]). It’s a JavaScript/HTML/CSS editor that makes it easier for Bootstrap developers to included the classes and Bootstrap snippets

Avijit
Avijit
10 years ago

Thanks for sharing. Also a good article is present here
[url=http://cybarlab.com/bootstrap]http://cybarlab.com/bootstrap[/url]

tafzil ansari
tafzil ansari
9 years ago

Its really nice. even i have created my minor project ‘Theme using bootstrap just with HTML’. but due to lack of time i copied this theme for minor project.

Jornal O São Paulo
Jornal O São Paulo
9 years ago

show

John Sander
John Sander
9 years ago

No doubt Bootstrap Framework is the best and easiest solution for responsive HTML and its speed is awesome on all devices. Professional HTML developers always recommend this great front end framework for better and responsive HTML.

Merit Nan
Merit Nan
9 years ago

sorry for the terrible delay but I keep on hearing about bootstrap, and yet no one addresses how it’s suffering from what all frameworks suffer from: lack of tailoring. Why keep people recommend bootstrap if it comes with all the bloat? (seriously concerned.)
And i think jens meiert, brad frost, paul irish, eric meyer they have all written at length how tailoring is what we need.

nickwalt
nickwalt
7 years ago

I’m interested in the two atomic CSS frameworks: Tachyons and BASSCSS, and also CSS Modules. I took a look at Bootstrap and it is very, very heavy compared to the new atomic frameworks. And, difficult to refactor, just like regular cascading CSS.
Urgh, why is this article listed as being published in 2017, when clearly it has been around for four years with comments?

Paul Cook
Paul Cook
7 years ago

Thanks for the nice article. Bootstrap is indeed the most popular and widely used CSS framework. Please take a look at this related blog which features the top 5 CSS frameworks that could give a boost to your front end development. 

Webnware Info Solution
Webnware Info Solution
3 years ago

perfect answers steve..
keep writting

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