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Using CSS Variables for Dynamic Theming: A Comprehensive Guide

Coding With JD
3 min readOct 2, 2023

When it comes to web design, flexibility is key. One of the most significant advancements in web design flexibility in recent years is the introduction of CSS Custom Properties, commonly referred to as CSS variables. With these, designers and developers can introduce dynamic theming and make runtime changes with ease. Let’s dive deep into the magic of CSS variables.

What are CSS Variables?

CSS variables are essentially named entities defined by developers to hold specific values. These can then be reused throughout the CSS document, making it easier to manage and maintain the styles.

For instance, instead of hardcoding a specific color multiple times throughout your CSS, you could set it once in a variable and reference that variable wherever needed.

The Basics: Defining and Using CSS Variables

To define a CSS variable, the syntax involves a double hyphen (--) followed by the variable name.

In style.css (your style file) add the following line to make the main-color variable:

:root {
--main-color: #3498db;
}

To use this variable elsewhere in your CSS:

button {
background-color…

--

--

Coding With JD
Coding With JD

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