What_CSS_is

CSS is a method by which you can change the meaning of common tags. For instance, normally the tag makes a new paragraph of text in the standard font (usually Times), at about 12 point size, without bold or italics.

However, with CSS we can redefine what the tag means. We can have our tag mean to make a new paragraph with red text in Palatino font, 14 point bold. We can't actually define new tags, but we can change what the existing tags do. This gives us much more control over the look and feel of our web pages.

At first, you will find that the things we do with CSS will just change the appearance of the text on the page, without too much effect on the rest of the layout. However, there are some tricks to be found a little later. To understand them when they come, though, it is essential that you get a good handle on CSS now.