Top 20+ CSS Interview Questions for 2025 : Everything You Need to Know
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- Jaro Education
- 10, March 2025
- 4:00 pm
Front-end developers are ruling the world of programming in 2025, and modern companies are on the search for skilled candidates who can handle the challenges brought forth by web design and development. As a front-end developer who may be chosen for one of these roles, one of the most essential skills you need to have is proficiency in CSS. And let’s be real—even if you’re very adept at CSS, you can never really predict the kind of CSS interview questions that you may face.
Don’t worry, for we’ve come to your aid! We have compiled a list of the top 25 CSS interview questions covering various levels of expertise, from basic CSS interview questions for freshers to advanced CSS interview questions.
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced developer, this list of CSS interview questions will provide you with a solid foundation and give you a better idea of what to expect in your next interview. This blog will also dive into HTML and CSS interview questions, helping you to understand both the structure and styling of web pages, a key area for many companies.
Basic CSS Interview Questions
If you are just starting your career or you’re preparing for your first job interview as a developer, you will likely be asked basic CSS interview questions. These questions will test your understanding of the fundamentals and how well you grasp basic concepts that are essential for styling web pages.
1. What is CSS?
CSS, or Cascading Style Sheets, is a language used to describe the presentation of a document written in HTML or XML. It controls the layout of multiple web pages and defines how HTML elements should be displayed on the screen, paper, or other media.
2. What are the different ways to apply CSS to a webpage?
There are three main ways to apply CSS to a webpage:
- Inline CSS
- Internal CSS
- External CSS
3. What is the box model in CSS?
The CSS box model describes the rectangular boxes generated for elements in the document tree. It consists of content, padding, border, and margin, and understanding this model is crucial for correctly styling elements.
4. What is the difference between padding and margin in CSS?
Padding is the space between the content of an element and its border, while margin is the space outside the border, separating the element from other elements.
5. What are the differences between the “class” and “id” selectors in CSS?
An “id” selector is used to target a unique element on the page, whereas a “class” selector is used to target multiple elements that share the same class. An ID should be unique within a page, while a class can be reused.
6. What is a CSS pseudo-class?
A pseudo-class is used to define the special state of an element, such as :hover, :active, or :focus. These are used to style elements when they are in a specific state.
7. What is the use of the float property in CSS?
The float property in CSS is used to position an element to the left or right of its container, allowing other content to flow around it. This property is often used for layout purposes but can sometimes cause issues if not managed properly.
8. What is the difference between inline, block, and inline-block elements in CSS?
- block elements take up the full width of their container and start on a new line (e.g., <div>).
- inline elements take up only as much width as necessary and do not start a new line (e.g., <span>).
- inline-block elements behave like inline elements but allow for block-level styling (e.g., <img>).
9. How do you center a div using CSS?
To center a div, you can use the following method:
div {
width: 300px;
margin-left: auto;
margin-right: auto;
}
10. What is the difference between the visibility and display properties?
- visibility: hidden hides the element but it still takes up space in the layout.
- display: none completely removes the element from the layout.
These are just some basic CSS interview questions you might encounter in your interviews. Understanding these key concepts is essential to ensuring you can effectively style web pages and create responsive designs.
HTML and CSS Interview Questions
While CSS is primarily focused on the design aspect of web development, understanding HTML is just as important. Many interviewers will ask HTML and CSS interview questions to test your combined knowledge of both languages. Let’s go over some of the most common HTML and CSS interview questions to help you prepare.
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11. What are the main differences between HTML and CSS?
HTML is the standard language used to create the structure of web pages, while CSS is used to control the visual presentation, such as layout, colors, and fonts. HTML provides the skeleton of the page, while CSS makes it visually appealing.
12. What is the importance of semantic HTML?
Semantic HTML uses HTML tags that convey the meaning of the content, like <header>, <footer>, <article>, and <section>. Using semantic tags improves accessibility, SEO, and maintainability.
13. How does CSS specificity work?
CSS specificity determines which CSS rule is applied when multiple rules target the same element. Specificity is calculated based on a set of rules that prioritize IDs over classes and classes over element selectors.
14. What is the difference between a link and @import in CSS?
- The <link> tag is used to link an external CSS file to an HTML document.
- The @import rule allows you to import CSS files within other CSS files, but it’s not as efficient as using the link tag, as it can cause delays in loading the stylesheet.
15. What are media queries in CSS?
Media queries allow you to apply different styles based on the device characteristics, such as screen width, resolution, and orientation. They are essential for creating responsive web designs that adapt to various screen sizes.
Advanced CSS Interview Questions
As you gain experience and dive deeper into the world of CSS, you may encounter advanced CSS interview questions. These questions require a more profound understanding of complex CSS concepts and the ability to apply advanced techniques.
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16. What are CSS preprocessors, and what are the advantages of using them?
CSS preprocessors, such as Sass and LESS, are tools that extend CSS by adding variables, nested rules, and functions. They help make writing and managing CSS more efficient by allowing for reusable code and cleaner syntax.
17. What is CSS Grid Layout?
CSS Grid Layout is a two-dimensional layout system that enables developers to create complex and flexible grid-based designs. It provides control over both rows and columns, making it easier to create sophisticated layouts.
18. What is the z-index in CSS?
The z-index property specifies the stack order of elements. Elements with a higher z-index value will appear in front of elements with a lower value. This property is primarily used for controlling the layering of elements.
19. How does position: absolute work in CSS?
When you apply position: absolute to an element, it is positioned relative to its nearest positioned ancestor (i.e., any element with position: relative, absolute, or fixed). If no such ancestor exists, it is positioned relative to the <html> element.
20. What is a CSS transition, and how do you use it?
CSS transitions allow you to create smooth changes in property values when an element’s state changes, such as when it is hovered over. You can specify the duration, timing function, and properties that should transition.
CSS Interview Questions for Fresher
21. What is the default value of the position property in CSS?
The default value of the position property is static. Elements with position: static are positioned according to the normal document flow.
22. How do you apply styles to an element in CSS?
You apply styles to an element by selecting it using its tag name, class, or ID, and then defining the properties inside curly braces. For example:
CSS
Copy
div {
color: blue;
}
23. What are the differences between the inline and block display values in CSS?
- inline elements do not break the flow of the document and only take up as much space as needed.
- block elements take up the full width of their parent and break the flow of content.
24. What is the difference between absolute, relative, and fixed positioning in CSS?
- absolute: Positioned relative to the nearest positioned ancestor.
- relative: Positioned relative to its original position in the normal document flow.
- fixed: Positioned relative to the browser window.
25. What is the clear property in CSS?
The clear property is used to control the behavior of elements around floating elements. It can be set to left, right, or both to ensure that elements do not flow next to floated elements.
Conclusion
This list of over 100 CSS interview questions provides a comprehensive guide for developers looking to prepare for an interview in 2025. From basic CSS interview questions to advanced CSS interview questions, mastering these concepts will help you stand out in your next job interview. Whether you are a fresher or a seasoned professional, this guide is meant to provide you with the knowledge and confidence to tackle any CSS-related questions that come your way.
If you are looking to strengthen your skills and stay updated with the latest trends in CSS, it is important to continue practicing and learning. Understanding HTML and CSS interview questions is also key to showing your expertise in front-end web development. So, dive deeper into these concepts, and keep honing your CSS skills for the ever-evolving world of web development.
Good luck with your CSS interview preparation!
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