Useful CSS Shorthand Properties

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CSS Shorthand

CSS Shorthand properties are properties that let you set the values of multiple other CSS properties simultaneously. Using shorthand property, you can write more short and often more readable style sheets, saving time and energy.

This Shorthand properties makes your code optimized and ‘SEO’ friendly. Let’s discover some useful CSS Shorthand properties :-

Recommended: Download Free HTML CSS Template with source code for practice

01. Background:

Longhand:

The following declarations …

.class {
     background-color: #ddd;
     background-image: url(image.png);
     background-repeat: no-repeat;
     background-position: top left;
     background-attachment: fixed;
  }

Shorthand:

… can be shortened to just one declaration:

.class {
      background: #ddd url(img.png) no-repeat top left fixed;
  }

Recommended: Learn About CSS Background Properties )

02. Font

Longhand:

The following declarations …

.class {
    font-weight: bold;
    font-style: italic;
    font-variant: small-caps;
    font-size: 1em;
    line-height: 1.6;
    font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
  }

Shorthand:

… can be shortened to just one declaration:

.class {
      font: bold italic small-caps 1em/1.6 Arial, sans-serif;
  }

03. Margin

Longhand:

The following declarations …

.class {
     margin-top: 1em;
     margin-right: 1.5em;
     margin-bottom: 2em;
     margin-left: 2.5em;
  }

Shorthand:

… can be shortened to just one declaration:

.class {
      margin: 1em 1.5em 2em 2.5em;
  }
/* or */
.class {
      margin: 5em 3em;
  } /* up/down - 5em & left/right - 3em */

04. Padding

Longhand:

The following declarations …

.class {
     padding-top: 1em;
     padding-right: 1.5em;
     padding-bottom: 2em;
     padding-left: 2.5em;
  }

Shorthand:

… can be shortened to just one declaration:

.class {
      padding: 1em 1.5em 2em 2.5em;
  }
/* or */
.class {
      padding: 5em 3em;
  } /* up/down - 5em & left/right - 3em */

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05. Border

Longhand:

The following declarations …

.class {
     border-width: 1px;
     border-style: solid;
     border-color: black;
  }

Shorthand:

… can be shortened to just one declaration:

.class {
      border: 1px solid black;
  }

06. Animation

Longhand:

The following declarations …

.class {
     animation-name: motion;
     animation-duration: 2s;
     animation-timing-function: ease-in;
     animation-delay: 1s;
     animation-direction: alternate;
     animation-iteration-count: infinite;
     animation-fill-mode: none;
     animation-play-state: running;
  }

Shorthand:

… can be shortened to just one declaration:

 .class {
      animation: motion 2s ease-in 1s alternate infinite none running;
  }

07. Outline

Longhand:

The following declarations …

.class {
     outline-width: thick;
     outline-style: dotted;
     outline-color: red;
  }

Shorthand:

… can be shortened to just one declaration:

 .class {
      outline: thick dotted red;
  }

08. Transition

Longhand:

The following declarations …

.class {
    transition-property: extend;
    transition-duration: 2s;
    transition-timing-function: linear;
    transition-delay: 1s;  
  }

Shorthand:

… can be shortened to just one declaration:

.class {
    transition: extend 2s linear 1s;
  }

09. Text-decoration

Longhand:

The following declarations …

.class {
    text-decoration-color: blue;
    text-decoration-line: underline;
    text-decoration-style: solid;
    text-decoration-thickness: 2px;  
  }

Shorthand:

… can be shortened to just one declaration:

 .class {
    text-decoration: blue underline solid 2px;
  }

Recommended: Learn About Text styling in CSS)

10. Flex

Longhand:

The following declarations …

.class {
     flex-grow: 1;
     flex-shrink: 1;
     flex-basis: auto;
  }

Shorthand:

… can be shortened to just one declaration:

.class {
      flex: 1 1 auto;
  }

11. List

Longhand:

The following declarations …

.class {
     list-style-type: square;
     list-style-position: inside;
     list-style-image: url("image.png");
  }

Shorthand:

… can be shortened to just one declaration:

.class {
      list: square inside url("image.png");
  }

12. Columns

Longhand:

The following declarations …

.class {
    column-width: 40px;
    column-count: 4;  
  }

Shorthand:

… can be shortened to just one declaration:

.class {
    columns: 40px 4;
  }

13. Grid

Longhand:

The following declarations …

.class {
    grid-template-rows: 100px auto 300px;
    grid-template-columns: repeat(2, 1fr) 100px;  
  }

Shorthand:

… can be shortened to just one declaration:

.class {
    grid: 100px auto 300px / repeat(2, 1fr) 100px;
  }

14. Grid-area

Longhand:

The following declarations …

.class {
    grid-row-start: 2;
    grid-column-start: 1;
    grid-row-end: 4;
    grid-column-end: 4;
  }

Shorthand:

… can be shortened to just one declaration:

.class {
    grid-area: 2 / 1 / span 2 / span 3;
  }

15. Grid-row

Longhand:

The following declarations …

.class {
    grid-row-start: 1;
    grid-row-end: 3; /* or */ 
    grid-row-end: span 2; 
  }

Shorthand:

… can be shortened to just one declaration:

.class {
    grid-row: 1 / 3 ;
    /* or */
    grid-row: 1 / span 2;
  }

16. Grid-column

Longhand:

The following declarations …

.class {
    grid-column-start: 1;
    grid-column-end: 3; /* or */
    grid-column-end: span 2;  
  }

Shorthand:

… shortened to just following one declaration:

 .class {
    grid-column: 1 / 3 ;
    /* or */
    grid-column: 1 / span 2; 
  }

These are the most useful CSS Shorthand properties. You can use on your project. And Let me know if you get any help with this.

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