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CSS CSS Layout Basics Getting Started with CSS Layout CSS Reset with Normalize

Why put the lists override in normalize and not the user style sheet?

Just a query.

Why put the lists override in normalize.css and not just in style.css? The normalize.css doesn't have any special magic properties that mean putting the code in there does anything different, so I can't see a good reason for putting it in there!

It seems neater to put anything you have written in your own files and keep them separate.

Also, normalize.css might be overwritten later on, especially if using npm or bower.

4 Answers

Guil Hernandez
STAFF
Guil Hernandez
Treehouse Teacher

Hey there,

Sure, if you're overriding many of the defaults, you probably should build upon it in your stylesheet. But depending on your project, customizing the normalize.css file you download into your project is OK. The Normalize docs even list customization as one of two common approaches. :)

Jason Anders
Jason Anders
Treehouse Moderator 145,860 Points

Thanks for replying Guil. :)

I guess I've just never seen the first approach done before, only the second one, so I was unsure as to why.

Thanks for clearing that up - I should've checked the docs myself before posting! :)

Jason Anders
MOD
Jason Anders
Treehouse Moderator 145,860 Points

Hey Leon,

One shouldn't be putting anything into the normalize.css file. This is a file that is included into your HTML either by downloading the file or using a CDN. It is already complete and should not be altered. Its only purpose is to "Normalize" the default styles across the various browsers.

You are correct. Anything you want to style yourself should always be done in your own CSS file(s). These files should also be included in the HTML after the normalize.css file so that you own styles will, in fact, overwrite the styles in the normalize.css file.

(edit: line removed)

Hope that helps to clear things up for you. :)

Keep coding! :dizzy:

Chris Conwell
Chris Conwell
2,268 Points

How to use normalize.css

Approach 1: use normalize.css as a starting point for your own project’s base CSS, customizing the values to match the design’s requirements.

Approach 2: include normalize.css untouched and build upon it, overriding the defaults later in your CSS if necessary.

Liam English
Liam English
3,837 Points

I was thinking the same thing, however - in the tutorial video attached to this page (CSS Reset with Normalize), Guil does that himself at around the 4:25 mark.

Jason Anders
Jason Anders
Treehouse Moderator 145,860 Points

Hmm???

Well, Liam... I really don't have a reply as to why Guil Hernandez would modify the normalize.css file? It may be just to demonstrate that you can if you really wanted to.

But, I really don't know why anyone would want to. I don't see a point, when anything you may personally want to "reset" or "normalize," can be done in you own CSS file, it doesn't even have to be in your main.css.

Plus, if you're using a CDN, you can't alter the file anyways. And, if you alter the normalize.css file then later update the file (newer version), replace the copy (lost the other one), etc ... all your changes are gone.

So... yeah... ??

:) :dizzy:

Liam English
Liam English
3,837 Points

Thanks for the reply Jason.

I think your point(s) are exactly our original thought at the time of watching the video through.

You've explained it very well for others also :)