Bootstrap is a CSS framework that many programmers have been using for a long time now. After many years of dominance in the CSS world, here comes tailwind CSS, which has been gaining popularity ever since it was introduced back in 2017.
It was described as a utility-first CSS framework. Whatever that means. Well, don’t worry. We are here to clear this up for you.
Today we are going to look at the difference between Tailwind CSS and Bootstrap. We will also look at some facts about the two frameworks and pick which one you think is better.
Table of content
- What is Tailwind CSS
- What is Bootstrap
- Difference Between Tailwind CSS and Bootstrap
- Adding Tailwind CSS with Bootstrap
- Which is better, tailwind CSS or Bootstrap
What is Tailwind CSS
As we first described tailwind CSS as a utility–first CSS framework. This means that instead of writing a bunch of CSS as you would normally do, you will be writing a lot of classes instead for your elements.
The framework’s core has no pre-made components like Bootstrap, so you have to build your own.
This is not necessarily a bad thing, especially if you are creating a different website from conventional websites.
What is Bootstrap
Bootstrap was released on August 9, 2011, almost ten years ago.
It was created by a group of the Twitter development team in a hackathon and was later developed and maintained by matt Otto and a group of developers.
It is a component-based framework that developers can use to build applications and websites fast. It is an object-based framework, making it easy to learn and maintain across multiple devices and browsers.
With its multiple components, Bootstrap covers all the fundamental elements in HTML, which you can quickly implement.
It also has numerous JavaScript plugins you can apply and make your website more responsive.
Difference Between Tailwind CSS and Bootstrap
Pre-designed widgets
The most notable difference between Tailwind CSS and Bootstrap is that Tailwind comes with pre-designed widgets you can use to build a website or application from scratch. At the same time, Bootstrap is a UI kit that comes with default or pre-styled that is responsive and mobile-friendly components.
The problem posed in using Bootstrap is that it compels developers to rely on specific components or styles for their designs.
A website that is created with Bootstrap has a typical pattern that makes them look alike. It no doubt hinders the ability of developers to use their creativity effectively.
Unlike Tailwind, which comes with a set of utility classes, you can create a beautiful UI with more flexibility.
Another advantage offered by tailwind CSS is that you can implement any design you want without worrying about which element affecting another element.
Another great feature you will find helpful is setting focus state, active, and hover using classes in a tailwind.
Use of preprocessor
Another difference between Tailwind CSS and Bootstrap is that Bootstrap uses Sass which is a popular CSS preprocessor. This enables you to use functions and variables in stylesheets.
Tailwind uses post-CSS and a config file to set up its variables and configuration of the stylesheets.
It simply means that you can add, update or remove fonts, color, spacing, or anything you can think of.
Size of the framework
Another difference between Tailwind CSS and Bootstrap is the size of the framework. You are required to include four files in your project to get the full benefits of using Bootstrap.
These files amount to 308.5kb, including bootstrap JS, main Bootstrap CSS file, jQuery, and Popper.js. In contrast, tailwind CSS requires only the base stylesheet, which is up to 27kb.
Community
Another considerable difference between Tailwind CSS and Bootstrap is their community. The bootstrap community is more extensive than Tailwind because it has been around longer and is much more popular.
You can easily find forums and several Stackoverflow threads answering any questions on any problems related to Bootstrap, unlike the tailwind community, which is still growing and has gained popularity only recently.
Adding Tailwind CSS with Bootstrap
You can use Tailwind with Bootstrap in your projects. This allows you to use both features and make stunning websites.
To add Tailwind CSS with Bootstrap, you need to create a tailwind.config.js file manually or use npx tailwindcss init.
You can go ahead to set a prefix on all your tailwind utility classes in order not to have duplicate class names. You can go ahead to custom Tailwind’s breakpoints to match Bootstrap’s.
Which is better, Tailwind CSS or Bootstrap
What is better between Tailwind CSS or Bootstrap is based on personal preference regarding what you are building.
If you want to build a website fast with not many customizations, then Bootstrap will be a way to go, but if you wish to implement a lot of styles and broaden your creativity, I suggest you take up tailwind CSS.
Whichever you choose, I suggest you try out the tailwind CSS and see whether building UI with utility classes is your preferred way of designing a website.
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Resources
Tailwind grid-How to use tailwind CSS grid templates in your project
How to create a Beautiful Responsive Navigation bar Using Tailwind CSS
Tailwind form-How to create and style a Responsive Form using Tailwind CSS
How to use tailwind CSS padding, margin and border in your project
How to create a beautiful React Bootstrap select with icons.
How to create a Beautiful Responsive Navigation bar Using Tailwind CSS
Tailwind Modal-How to create a React Modal using Tailwind CSS.
How to Implement a React Step Progress Bar Using Tailwind CSS
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