Custom CSS vs CSS-in-JS

Developers should learn and use custom CSS when they need to create unique, brand-specific designs, implement complex layouts, or optimize performance beyond what CSS frameworks offer meets developers should use css-in-js when building modern web applications with frameworks like react, vue, or angular, as it provides scoped styling that prevents global css conflicts and supports dynamic theming. Here's our take.

Custom CSS

Nice Pick

Developers should learn and use custom CSS when they need to create unique, brand-specific designs, implement complex layouts, or optimize performance beyond what CSS frameworks offer

Pros

• It is crucial for projects requiring pixel-perfect control, such as custom web applications, marketing sites, or when integrating with design systems
• Related to: html, responsive-design

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

CSS-in-JS

Developers should use CSS-in-JS when building modern web applications with frameworks like React, Vue, or Angular, as it provides scoped styling that prevents global CSS conflicts and supports dynamic theming

Pros

• It's particularly useful for large-scale projects where maintainability and component isolation are priorities, and when leveraging JavaScript's power for conditional or runtime styling
• Related to: react, javascript

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Custom CSS is a concept while CSS-in-JS is a library. We picked Custom CSS based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Custom CSS wins

Based on overall popularity. Custom CSS is more widely used, but CSS-in-JS excels in its own space.