Using Custom Properties (CSS Variables) for Theming
Jul 28, 2025 am 02:04 AMCSS variables defined in:root can achieve global access and are used to set default theme colors and styles; 2. Overwrite variable values by adding class names such as data-theme to html or body, thereby creating alternative themes such as dark colors; 3. Use JavaScript to dynamically switch topics, modify data-theme attributes through setAttribute, and support users to manually switch or follow system preferences; 4. Use alternate values in var() to enhance fault tolerance, and use @supports detection browser support; 5. Organize variables by logical grouping, spacing, fonts, etc. to improve maintainability; in this way, CSS variables achieve efficient, maintainable and dynamic theme management, suitable for projects of all sizes.
Using CSS custom properties—commonly known as CSS variables—is a powerful and clean way to manage themes in web applications. Unlike preprocessor variables (like in Sass), CSS variables are dynamic, meaning their values can be changed at runtime using JavaScript or media queries, making them ideal for them.

Here's how you can effectively use CSS variables for theming:
1. Define Variables in :root
for Global Access
CSS variables are typically declared in the :root
pseudo-class to make them globally available across your stylesheet.

:root { /* Light theme by default */ --bg-primary: #ffffff; --text-primary: #333333; --accent-color: #007bff; --border-color: #dddddd; }
You can then use these variables anywhere:
body { background-color: var(--bg-primary); color: var(--text-primary); } .button { background-color: var(--accent-color); border: 1px solid var(--border-color); }
2. Create Alternate Themes with Classes
To support multiple themes (eg, dark mode), override the variables using a class on the html
or body
element.

[data-theme="dark"] { --bg-primary: #1a1a1a; --text-primary: #f5f5f5; --accent-color: #00a2ff; --border-color: #444444; }
Then toggle the theme in HTML:
<html data-theme="dark">
This approach keeps your component styles unchanged—only the variable values change.
3. Switch Themes Dynamically with JavaScript
Use JavaScript to switch themes based on user preference or system settings.
function setTheme(theme) { document.documentElement.setAttribute('data-theme', theme); } // Example: Switch to dark mode setTheme('dark'); // Or follow system preference if (window.matchMedia('(prefers-color-scheme: dark)').matches) { setTheme('dark'); }
You can also add a toggle button:
<button onclick="setTheme('light')">Light</button> <button onclick="setTheme('dark')">Dark</button>
4. Use Fallbacks and Validate Values
The var()
function allows a fallback value in case the variable is undefined:
color: var(--text-primary, #333);
This is useful during development or when supporting older themes.
Also, consider using @supports
to check for variable support (though modern browsers all support them):
@supports (color: var(--test)) { body { font-style: normal; } }
Bonus: Organize Variables by Theme or Purpose
For larger projects, group variables logically:
:root { /* Colors */ --color-primary: #007bff; --color-success: #28a745; /* Theme-specific */ --bg-surface: #ffffff; --bg-card: #f8f9fa; /* Spacing */ --space-md: 1rem; /* Typography */ --font-size-base: 16px; }
This improves maintainability and makes it easier to update themes.
Using CSS variables for theming keeps your code DRY, make runtime theme switching seamless, and integrates well with modern frontend frameworks. It's a simple yet scalable solution that works great for both small sites and large apps.
Basically, define once, reuse everywhere, and change globally with a single attribute.
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This article will take you through CSS variables, talk about how CSS variables work, and introduce how to use inline CSS variables to improve the efficiency of smart layout. I hope it will be helpful to everyone!

CSS variables improve style maintenance and theme management by defining reusable values. Its core advantages include: 1. Reduce duplication and improve consistency by centrally defining style values; 2. Support dynamic coverage to achieve simple and efficient multi-theme switching; 3. Avoid common traps such as inconsistent naming, overuse, etc. Developers should define global variables in:root, and use scope and fallback values ??to enhance flexibility and readability, while dynamic adjustments are combined with JavaScript to improve user experience.

The core of using CSS variables to achieve topic switching is to define the basic variables and organize the topic structure, and dynamically switch through class names or attributes. The steps are as follows: 1. Define basic variables such as colors, fonts, etc. in root; 2. Create classes that cover variables for different themes (such as dark and light colors); 3. Call variables using var() in CSS rules; 4. Switch class names or attributes through JavaScript to achieve theme changes; 5. Extend variables to font size, rounded corners, shadows and other style attributes. This clear structure and easy maintenance lies in reasonable naming and scope control.

CSS custom attributes (i.e. CSS variables) improve development efficiency by storing and reusing style values. The core usage methods include: 1. Use the --variable name syntax to define in:root or specific selector; 2. Reference variables through the var (--variable name, default value) function; 3. Can dynamically update the variable values, support theme switching, responsive design and other scenarios. Their inheritance and cascade rules are consistent with ordinary CSS properties and can be modified through JavaScript runtime to achieve user preferences or dynamic style adjustments.

The scope of CSS variables controls their access scope and behavior, and implements style control through global and local scopes. By default, CSS variables are valid in declared elements and their children, but the scope can be adjusted by defining the location; global variables are defined in: root pseudo-class and can be accessed by the entire document; local variables are defined in a specific selector, only for use by this component or region; reasonable scope improves maintainability and avoids naming conflicts; common patterns are global variables used for topics (such as colors, fonts), and local variables are used for component layout settings; variables can be overwritten at any level of the DOM tree, providing finer style control; fallback values can be specified when using variables to enhance robustness; appropriate scope makes the style neat, predictable, and easy to expand.

CSS variables improve style management efficiency by defining reusable values. Developers use the --prefix to declare variables, usually define global variables in :root, and then reference them through the var() function, such as .button{background-color:var(--primary-color);}. Variables can be scoped as needed, such as redefining --text-color in .dark-mode to implement dark mode. JavaScript can dynamically update variables through setProperty to achieve interactive effects such as topic switching. When using it, please note that variable names are case sensitive, provide fallback values, avoid circular references, and reasonably control the scope of use to ensure maintenance and flexibility.

CSScustompropertiesenablemaintainableanddynamicthemingbyallowingglobaldefinitionandruntimeupdatesofdesigntokens;1.Defineconsistentdesigntokensin:rootforcolors,spacing,andtypography;2.SwitchthemesdynamicallyusingclasstogglesandJavaScript,leveraginginh

CSS variables defined in root can be accessed globally and are used to set default theme colors and styles; 2. Overwrite variable values by adding data-theme class names to html or body, thereby creating alternative themes such as dark colors; 3. Use JavaScript to dynamically switch themes, modify data-theme attributes through setAttribute, and support users to manually switch or follow system preferences; 4. Use alternate values in var() to enhance fault tolerance, and use @supports to detect browser support; 5. Organize variables by logical grouping, spacing, fonts, etc. to improve maintainability; in this way, CSS variables achieve efficient, maintainable and dynamic theme management,
