The 13 best css Books of all time for advanced programmers

A data-backed answer

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Methodology

There are countless lists on the internet claiming to be the list of must-read css books and it seemed that all those lists always recommended that same books minus two or three odd choices.

Finding good resources for learning programming is always tricky. Every-one has its own opinion about what book is the best to learn, and as we say in french, “Color and tastes should not be argued about”.

However I though it would be interesting to trust the wisdom of the crown and to find the books that appeared the most in those “Best css Book” lists.

If you want to jump right on the results go take a look below at the full results. If you want to learn about the methodology, bear with me.

I’ve simply asked Google for a few queries like “Best css Books” and its variations of. I have then scrapped all those pages (using ScrapingBee, a web scraping API I’m working on).

I’ve deduplicated the links and ended up with nearly 114 links. Using the title of the pages I was also able to quickly discards:

I ended up with almost 105 HTML files. I went on opening all the files on my browser, open my chrome inspector, found and wrote the CSS selector matching book titles in the article. This took me around 1hours, almost 30 seconds per page.

This also allowed me to discard even more nonrelevant pages, and I discarded a lot. In the end I compiled around 62 lists into this one.

Book titles were then extracted with manuel extraction and some web scraping.

I ended up with a huge list of books, not usable without some post-processing.

To find the most quoted css books I needed to normalize my results.

I had to play with all the different variation like “{title} by {author}” or “{title} - {author}”.

Or “{title}:{subtitle}” and “{title}”, or even all the one containing edition number.

And afterquite a bit of manual cleaning.

My list now looked like this:

From there it was easy to compute the most recommended books. You can find all the data used to process this list on this repo. Now let’s take a look at the list:

I've also recently used some data from different book sellers in order to not forget important books and try to give more weight to books with incredible reviews.

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Results

13
)

The HTML and CSS Workshop: Learn to build your own websites and kickstart your career as a web designer or developer

by
Lewis Coulson & Brett Jephson & Rob Larsen & Matt Park & Marian Zburlea
3.2
% recommend
🛒   Buy
“
Master HTML and CSS to create modern, stylish, and responsive websites with the help of real-world examples and hands-on activities Key Features Learn HTML and CSS to produce highly functional and appealing websites Overcome common challenges in web design and development Ensure that your websites are accessible and engaging on all devices Book Description With knowledge of CSS and HTML, you can build visually appealing, interactive websites without relying on website-building tools that come with lots of pre-packaged restrictions. The HTML and CSS Workshop takes you on a journey to learning how to create beautiful websites using your own content, understanding how they work, and how to manage them long-term.

The book begins by introducing you to HTML5 and CSS3, and takes you through the process of website development with easy-to-follow steps. Exploring how the browser renders websites from code to display, you'll advance to adding a cinematic experience to your website by incorporating video and audio elements into your code.

You'll also use JavaScript to add interactivity to your site, integrate HTML forms for capturing user data, incorporate animations to create slick transitions, and build stunning themes using advanced CSS. You'll also get to grips with mobile-first development using responsive design and media queries, to ensure your sites perform well on any device.

Throughout the book, you'll work on engaging projects, including a video store home page that you will iteratively add functionality to as you learn new skills. By the end of this Workshop, you'll have gained the confidence to creatively tackle your own ambitious web development projects.

What you will learn Understand how websites are built, structured, and styled Master the syntax and structure of HTML and CSS Know how to build websites from scratch using HTML5 and CSS3 Create intuitive forms that allow users to input data Style your website by integrating videos, animations, and themes Design robust websites that work on all modern devices seamlessly Discover how to maintain and improve the performance of a website Who this book is for Ideal for beginners, this Workshop is designed for anyone who is new to HTML and CSS who wants to learn to design and maintain their own websites. Table of Contents Introduction to HTML and CSS Structure and Layout Text and Typography Forms Themes, Colors, and Polish Responsive Web Design and Media Queries Media - Audio, Video, and Canvas Animations Accessibility Preprocessors and Tooling Maintainable CSS Web Components The Future of HTML and CSS
”
Amazon.com
12
)

CSS Master

by
Tiffany B Brown
3.3
% recommend
🛒   Buy
“
CSS Master is tailor-made for the web designer or front-end devleoper who's really serious about taking their skills to the next level. Discover how to keep ahead of the game by adhering to best practice and employing the most effective, cutting-edge CSS techniques
”
Amazon.com
11
)

Mastering Front-End Web Development: 14 Books in 1. Introducing 200+ Extensions. An Advanced Guide.

by
Chong Lip Phang
3.3
% recommend
🛒   Buy
“
As opposed to back-end web development which deals with servers, front-end web development focuses on the end users' interactions with a website on a browser. A skillful front-end web developer knows more than just the basics of HTML, CSS and JavaScript.

Going beyond the major web-based languages, this book represents an attempt to compile all the knowledge needed to become a professional front-end web developer. The reader will be introduced to more than 200 web extensions, frameworks, tools, and libraries, along with a complete illustration of all Web APIs known to the world today.

Overview: Chapter 1: Development Environments Chapter 2: HTML 5.2 Chapter 3: Bootstrap 5 Chapter 4: CSS 3 Chapter 5: SEO Chapter 6: Cordova Chapter 7: SVG Chapter 8: ECMAScript 2020 / ES11 Chapter 9: HTML DOM Chapter 10: Advanced Web APIs Chapter 11: jQuery 3.5 Chapter 12: Extensions and Tools Chapter 13: Canvas Chapter 14: WebGL ** special note: this book partially overlaps with two books by the same author: 1) Web Coding Bible (18 Books in 1) 2) An Effective Guide to Modern JavaScript (ECMAScript 2017 / ES8) For more information, please look for the book on Google Play Books: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Chong_Lip_Phang_Mastering_Front_End_Web_Developmen?id=Y-UJEAAAQBAJ REQUEST FOR HONEST REVIEWS (>100 words): The first 3 reviewers on the paperback version of this book will get a free paperback of Web Coding Bible (18 Books in 1). To obtain the book, please email your postal address to webcodingbible@gmail.com after you have posted your review on Amazon and Google Play Books.
”
Amazon.com
10
)

CSS Mastery

by
Andy Budd & Emil Björklund
3.7
% recommend
🛒   Buy
“
Fully updated to the latest CSS modules, make the journey to CSS mastery as simple and painless as possible. This book dives into advanced aspects of CSS-based design, such as responsive design, modular CSS, and CSS typography.

Through a series of easy-to-follow tutorials, you will learn practical CSS techniques you can immediately start using in your daily work. CSS Mastery: Advanced Web Standards Solutions is your indispensable guide to cutting-edge CSS development―this book demystifies the secrets of CSS.

While CSS is a relatively simple technology to learn, it is a difficult one to master. When you first start developing sites using CSS, you will come across all kinds of infuriating browser bugs and inconsistencies.

It sometimes feels like there are a million and one different techniques to master, spread across a bewildering array of websites. The range of possibilities seems endless and makes for a steep and daunting learning curve.

While most books concentrate on basic skills, this one is different, assuming that you already know the basics and why you should be using CSS in your work, and concentrating mainly on advanced techniques. This new edition covers all of the CSS fundamentals such as the importance of meaningful markup, how to structure and maintain your code, and how the CSS layout model really works.

This new edition contains: New examples and updated browser support information Full coverage of modular CSS and responsive design Essential information on CSS typography and layout control What You'll Learn Discover the best practice concepts in CSS design Master the most important (and tricky) parts of CSS Identify and fix the most common CSS problems Deal with the most common bugs See the latest information on CSS features and support Who This Book Is For Intermediate and advanced web designers and developers. It offers a quick recap of the main points of CSS, while dispelling some common myths, but then moves forward to delve into the higher-level aspects of CSS
”
Amazon.com
9
)

Web Design Playground: HTML & CSS the Interactive Way

by
Paul McFedries
5.9
% recommend
🛒   Buy
“
Summary Web Design Playground takes you step by step from writing your first line of HTML to creating interesting and attractive web pages. In this project-based book, you'll use a custom online workspace, the book's companion Playground, to design websites, product pages, photo galleries, and more.

Purchase of the print book includes a free eBook in PDF, Kindle, and ePub formats from Manning Publications. About the Technology How do top designers learn to create beautiful web pages and intuitive user experiences? Great examples, expert mentoring, and lots of practice! Written by web designer and master teacher Paul McFedries, this unique book shapes and sharpens your skills in HTML, CSS, and web page design.

About the Book Web Design Playground takes you step by step from writing your first line of HTML to creating interesting, attractive web pages. In this project-based book, you'll use a custom online workspace to design websites, product pages, photo galleries, and more.

Don't worry about setting up your own servers and domain names—the book comes with a free "playground" which lets you experiment without any of that! You can concentrate on core skills like adding images and video and laying out the page, plus learning typography, responsive design, and the other tools of the web trade. What's inside Getting started with HTML, CSS, and web design A free, fully interactive web design workspace Working with images, color, and fonts Full-color illustrations throughout About the Reader If you can use a browser, you're ready to create web pages! About the Author Paul McFedries has written nearly 100 books, which have sold over four million copies world-wide
”
Amazon.com
8
)

HTML5 for Masterminds, 3rd Edition: How to take advantage of HTML5 to create responsive websites and revolutionary applications

by
J D Gauchat
6.4
% recommend
🛒   Buy
“
HTML5 for Masterminds Revised 3rd Edition, now with a complete course on Web Development and Responsive Web Design. Learn how to create websites and applications for desktop and mobile devices with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

HTML5 for Masterminds leads the reader step-by-step to master the complex subjects required to create websites and web applications. After reading this book, you will know how to structure your documents with HTML, how to style them with CSS, and how to work with the most powerful JavaScript APIs.

This book is not an introduction, but instead a complete course that teaches you how to build responsive websites and amazing web applications from scratch. Every chapter explores both basic and sophisticated concepts of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Functional examples support the information introduced in every chapter to guide beginners and experts throughout every single element, style, and function included in these languages. The goal of HTML5 for Masterminds is to make you familiar with the most advanced technologies for the web.

It was designed to prepare you for the future, and it was written for the genius inside you, for Masterminds. This book includes: How to create HTML5 documents How to create CSS3 Style Sheets How to program in JavaScript How to design websites with Responsive Web Design How to create 2D and 3D Graphics How to create 2D and 3D Animations How to create 2D and 3D Video Games JavaScript APIs: Form API Canvas API WebGL API and Three.js Web Audio API IndexedDB API Web Storage API File API Web Socket API WebRTC API Stream API FullScreen API Ajax Level 2 Web Workers API Drag and Drop API History API Web Messaging API Pointer Lock API Geolocation API Page Visibility API TextTrack API HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript
”
Amazon.com
7
)

Beginning HTML5 and CSS3 For Dummies

by
Ed Tittel & Chris Minnick
6.5
% recommend
🛒   Buy
“
Your full-color, friendly guide to getting started with HTML5 and CSS3! HTML and CSS are essential tools for creating dynamic websites and help make your websites even more effective and unique. This friendly-but-straightforward guide gets you started with the basics of the latest versions of HTML and CSS: HTML5 and CSS3.

Introducing you to the syntax and structure of the languages, this helpful guide shows you how to create and view a web page, explains ideal usage of HTML5 and CSS3, walks you through the CSS3 rules and style sheets, addresses common mistakes and explains how to fix them, and explores interesting HTML5 tools. Serves as an ideal introduction to HTML5 and CSS3 for beginners with little to no web development experience Details the capabilities of HTML5 and CSS3 and how to use both to create responsive, practical, and well-designed websites Helps you understand how HTML5 and CSS3 are the foundation upon which hundreds of millions of web pages are built Features full-color illustrations to enhance your learning process Beginning HTML5 and CSS3 For Dummies is the perfect first step for getting started with the fundamentals of web development and design.
”
Amazon.com
6
)

New Perspectives HTML5 and CSS3: Comprehensive

by
Patrick M. Carey
7.9
% recommend
🛒   Buy
“
Now you can master Web page design as you learn from the unique, hands-on approach found in NEW PERSPECTIVES HTML5 AND CSS3: COMPREHENSIVE, 7E. Each tutorial in this complete book challenges you to put into practice the concepts you have just learned.

Every tutorial includes a basic statement of the problem, the goals you should achieve, and a helpful demonstration of how to complete the task to create a fully functional website. You do not need any prior experience with HTML or CSS or any specialized software other than a basic editor and Web browser.

With the book�s user-friendly approach, you develop important problem-solving skills as you retain the key concepts and apply what you�ve learned in a professional environment. Successfully completing this book�s tutorial cases and case problems acts a springboard in helping you develop your own professional portfolio to showcase your abilities in website design.
”
Amazon.com
5
)

CSS: The Missing Manual

by
David Sawyer McFarland
8.1
% recommend
🛒   Buy
“
CSS lets you create professional-looking websites, but learning its finer points can be tricky—even for seasoned web developers. This fully updated edition provides the most modern and effective tips, tricks, and tutorial-based instruction on CSS available today.

Learn how to use new tools such as Flexbox and Sass to build web pages that look great and run fast on any desktop or mobile device. Ideal for casual and experienced designers alike.

The important stuff you need to know: Start with the basics. Write CSS-friendly HTML, including the HTML5 tags recognized by today’s browsers.

Design for mobile devices. Create web pages that look great when visitors use them on the go.

Make your pages work for you. Add animations that capture the imagination, and forms that get the job done.

Take control of page layouts. Use professional design techniques such as floats and positioning.

Make your layouts more flexible. Design websites with Flexbox that adjust to different devices and screen sizes.

Work more efficiently. Write less CSS code and work with smaller files, using Syntactically Awesome Stylesheets (Sass).
”
Amazon.com
4
)

CSS Secrets: Better Solutions to Everyday Web Design Problems

by
Lea Verou
10.9
% recommend
🛒   Buy
“
In this practical guide, CSS expert Lea Verou provides 47 undocumented techniques and tips to help intermediate-to advanced CSS developers devise elegant solutions to a wide range of everyday web design problems. Rather than focus on design, CSS Secrets shows you how to solve problems with code.

You'll learn how to apply Lea's analytical approach to practically every CSS problem you face to attain DRY, maintainable, flexible, lightweight, and standards-compliant results. Inspired by her popular talks at over 60 international web development conferences, Lea Verou provides a wealth of information for topics including: Backgrounds and Borders Shapes Visual Effects Typography User Experience Structure and Layout Transitions and Animations
”
Amazon.com
3
)

Murach's HTML5 and CSS3, 4th Edition

by
Anne Boehm & Zak Ruvalcaba
13.5
% recommend
🛒   Buy
“
Until now, my websites looked great but have been coded with what seems like duct-tape and bubble-gum methods, just for appearances and not for professionalism or compliance. This book taught me all that is possible with HTML and CSS coding....

What a game changer! That's what one web designer posted about a previous edition of Murach's HTML5 and CSS3. Now, this 4th Edition updates and improves all the HTML and CSS content in the book...and it adds coverage of Flexible Box and Grid Layout, two new CSS3 ways to implement page layouts.

So whether you're a web designer, a JavaScript programmer, a server-side programmer, or a rookie, this book delivers all the HTML and CSS skills that you need on the job. This book begins with an 8-chapter hands-on course that teaches you HTML and CSS from scratch, including the latest HTML5 and CSS3 features.

This short course ends with a chapter that teaches you how to use fluid design and media queries to implement Responsive Web Design so your pages will look good and work right on any screen, from phone to tablet to desktop. After that, the unique design of this book lets you go on to any other chapter to learn new skills whenever you need them.

For example, chapters 9 and 10 show you how to use Flexible Box and Grid Layout. Chapter 13 shows you how to work with forms and data validation.

Chapter 14 shows you how to enhance a site with video clips. Chapter 16 shows you how to use CSS3 transitions, transforms, and animations.

Chapters 17 and 18 show you how to design and deploy a website. Chapters 19 and 20 introduce other professional skills like how to use JavaScript and jQuery and how to use development tools like Bootstrap, SASS, and Emmet
”
Amazon.com
2
)

Learning Web Design: A Beginner's Guide to HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Web Graphics

by
Jennifer Robbins
14.6
% recommend
🛒   Buy
“
Do you want to build web pages but have no prior experience? This friendly guide is the perfect place to start. You’ll begin at square one, learning how the web and web pages work, and then steadily build from there.

By the end of the book, you’ll have the skills to create a simple site with multicolumn pages that adapt for mobile devices. Each chapter provides exercises to help you learn various techniques and short quizzes to make sure you understand key concepts.

This thoroughly revised edition is ideal for students and professionals of all backgrounds and skill levels. It is simple and clear enough for beginners, yet thorough enough to be a useful reference for experienced developers keeping their skills up to date
”
Amazon.com
1
)

HTML and CSS: Design and Build Websites

by
Jon Duckett
35.0
% recommend
🛒   Buy
“
A full-color introduction to the basics of HTML and CSS from the publishers of Wrox! Every day, more and more people want to learn some HTML and CSS. Joining the professional web designers and programmers are new audiences who need to know a little bit of code at work (update a content management system or e-commerce store) and those who want to make their personal blogs more attractive.

Many books teaching HTML and CSS are dry and only written for those who want to become programmers, which is why this book takes an entirely new approach. Introduces HTML and CSS in a way that makes them accessible to everyone―hobbyists, students, and professionals―and it’s full-color throughout Utilizes information graphics and lifestyle photography to explain the topics in a simple way that is engaging Boasts a unique structure that allows you to progress through the chapters from beginning to end or just dip into topics of particular interest at your leisure This educational book is one that you will enjoy picking up, reading, then referring back to
”
Amazon.com

Conclusion

I hope that you liked this list. Please do not hesitate to check out the other ones I've published.

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