/css-architecture

name: css-architecture
description: >
  Organize CSS using BEM, SMACSS, and CSS-in-JS patterns. Use when building
  scalable, maintainable styling systems with proper naming conventions.

CSS Architecture

Table of Contents

• [Overview](#overview)
• [When to Use](#when-to-use)
• [Quick Start](#quick-start)
• [Reference Guides](#reference-guides)
• [Best Practices](#best-practices)

Overview

Build maintainable CSS systems using methodologies like BEM (Block Element Modifier), SMACSS, and CSS-in-JS patterns with proper organization and conventions.

When to Use

• Large-scale stylesheets
• Component-based styling
• Design system development
• Multiple team collaboration
• CSS scalability and reusability

Quick Start

Minimal working example:

/* Block - standalone component */
.button {
  display: inline-block;
  padding: 10px 20px;
  border: none;
  border-radius: 4px;
  cursor: pointer;
  font-size: 16px;
  transition: all 0.3s ease;
}

/* Element - component part */
.button__icon {
  margin-right: 8px;
  vertical-align: middle;
}

/* Modifier - variant */
.button--primary {
  background-color: #007bff;
  color: white;
}

.button--primary:hover {
  background-color: #0056b3;
// ... (see reference guides for full implementation)

Reference Guides

Detailed implementations in the `references/` directory:

| Guide | Contents | |---|---| | [BEM (Block Element Modifier) Pattern](references/bem-block-element-modifier-pattern.md) | BEM (Block Element Modifier) Pattern | | [SMACSS (Scalable and Modular Architecture for CSS)](references/smacss-scalable-and-modular-architecture-for-css.md) | SMACSS (Scalable and Modular Architecture for CSS) | | [CSS-in-JS with Styled Components](references/css-in-js-with-styled-components.md) | CSS-in-JS with Styled Components | | [CSS Variables (Custom Properties)](references/css-variables-custom-properties.md) | CSS Variables (Custom Properties) | | [Utility-First CSS (Tailwind Pattern)](references/utility-first-css-tailwind-pattern.md) | Utility-First CSS (Tailwind Pattern) |

Best Practices

✅ DO

• Follow established patterns and conventions
• Write clean, maintainable code
• Add appropriate documentation
• Test thoroughly before deploying

❌ DON'T

• Skip testing or validation
• Ignore error handling
• Hard-code configuration values