"What the hell even is TailwindCSS or Bootstrap?! 💀"
TailwindCSS and Bootstrap are two of the most popular CSS frameworks. Both frameworks have a lot of features that might assist you in creating visually appealing and responsive websites. There are, however, some significant distinctions between the two.
In this article, I compare Tailwind CSS and Bootstrap in terms of functionality, performance, learning curve, and community. I will also explore which framework is best suited for specific sorts of projects.
"But why should I even bother with frameworks when I can just use my trusty CSS? 🤓"
Here are several ways in which CSS frameworks outperform conventional CSS when it comes to building frontends:
Speed: CSS frameworks can help you accelerate development by offering pre-built components and styles. This may save you a significant amount of time and work, particularly if you are unfamiliar with CSS.
Consistency: CSS frameworks may assist you in creating uniform and professional designs across your website. This is because they supply a collection of pre-defined styles that you may use to design your elements. This may save you a significant amount of time and effort, particularly if you're working on a large website with several pages.
Reusability: CSS frameworks can assist you in reusing code throughout your website. This is because they supply a collection of pre-built components that you can utilize to construct various pages and layouts. This may save you a significant amount of time and effort, especially if you are working on a website with several comparable pages.
"Interesting, but how do I know which one is right for me?"
Here are 5 differences between TailwindCSS and Bootstrap:
- Prebuilt Components:
Bootstrap includes a collection of prebuilt components that may be used to rapidly and simply design a website. Buttons, forms, tables, and navigation menus are examples of these components. You don't have to bother about styling them because they're all styled with Bootstrap's default CSS.
TailwindCSS has no prebuilt components. This implies you'll have to create your components from the start. TailwindCSS, on the other hand, includes a plethora of utility classes that you can utilize to decorate your components. These utility classes allow you to fine-tune the look of your components.
"Oh, so that's how Bootstrap saves me time, but TailwindCSS gives me more control over my components..."
However, there are several drawbacks to employing prefabricated components. For starters, they may be restrictive. If you wish to develop a custom UI that differs from Bootstrap's default look, you must edit the prebuilt components or create your own from scratch.
Second, prebuilt components might increase the size of your website's CSS file. If you're working on a website with restricted bandwidth, this can be an issue.
- Customization:
Bootstrap provides a relatively restricted selection of styles for customizing your website. This is because Bootstrap is intended to be a beginner-friendly framework. The prebuilt components have a collection of basic styles that can only be modified to a limited extent.
Tailwind CSS allows much greater customization than Bootstrap. This is due to Tailwind CSS's extensive library of utility classes for styling your website. These utility classes allow you to fine-tune the design of your website.
"But, like everything else, I assume they have their pros and cons?"
The biggest benefit of Tailwind CSS's customization tools is that they provide you with a great deal of control over the design of your website. Custom styles may be created to reflect your brand identification or to meet the unique demands of your project.
Tailwind CSS's customization options do have some drawbacks. For starters, they can be harder to master than the prebuilt Bootstrap components. Second, the vast number of utility classes might complicate your CSS file.
- Size:
Tailwind CSS is a more compact framework than Bootstrap. Tailwind CSS is thus a better alternative for websites with low bandwidth.
Tailwind CSS's modest size is because it is a utility-first framework. This implies that it provides a set of utility classes for styling your website. Because these utility classes are compact and lightweight, they do not add much bulk to your CSS code.
In contrast, Bootstrap is a more conventional framework. It includes a collection of pre-built components that you can use to customize your website. Because these prebuilt components are larger and more complicated than Tailwind CSS's utility classes, they increase the size of your CSS file.
Tailwind CSS's reduced size might be a great help if you're working on a website with restricted bandwidth. If you're making a website for a mobile app, for example, you might want to utilize Tailwind CSS to make the download size as tiny as possible.
"A lower filesize does sound good..."
However, there are certain drawbacks to employing Tailwind CSS in its reduced version. For starters, it is harder to learn than Bootstrap. The prebuilt components of Bootstrap make it simple to get started, whereas Tailwind CSS needs you to learn how to use the utility classes.
Second, the decreased size of Tailwind CSS may make customizing your website more challenging. If you need to make a lot of modifications to the design of your website, Tailwind CSS may not be flexible enough.
- Learning Curve:
Tailwind CSS is more difficult to learn than Bootstrap. This is because Tailwind CSS is a more complicated framework. It has a utility-first approach, which means you must learn how to layout your website using the utility classes.
In contrast, Bootstrap is a more conventional framework. It employs a component-based approach, which means you may style your website using prebuilt components. This makes learning Bootstrap simpler for novices.
"Interesting, but I don't care. Life has always been hard..."
If you are new to CSS, the steeper learning curve of Tailwind CSS may be negative. However, if you are a skilled CSS developer, this might be advantageous. Tailwind CSS provides you with more control over your website's design and might be a more efficient approach to styling your website.
- Community:
Tailwind CSS's community is smaller than that of Bootstrap. This is because Tailwind CSS is a newer framework. The Tailwind CSS community, on the other hand, is fast expanding, and there are a lot of active online resources accessible, such as the Tailwind CSS documentation, the Tailwind CSS subreddit, and the Tailwind CSS Discord server.
Bootstrap has a larger community than TailwindSS. This is because Bootstrap has been around for a longer time and is more extensively utilized. The Bootstrap community is vibrant, and there are several online resources accessible, including the Bootstrap documentation, and the Bootstrap subreddit.
"At this point, I'm more confused. I might as well learn both of them..."
"Alright then, let's cut the nonsense and get to the point"
Tailwind CSS is a wonderful choice if you want a lightweight and adaptable framework. Bootstrap is a wonderful choice if you want a framework that is simple to learn and gives a uniform look and feel.
Finally, the appropriate framework for you will be determined by your unique demands and tastes. If you are unsure which framework to use, I recommend testing both and finding which one you like.
"Great article! Now I feel like I don't know anything and I have to start all over again"
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