10 SCSS File Structure Best Practices
If you're working with SCSS, you need to know about these 10 best practices for file structure.
SCSS is a powerful CSS preprocessor that allows developers to write more efficient and maintainable code. It also provides a way to structure and organize your codebase. But with so many options available, it can be difficult to know which file structure is best for your project.
In this article, we’ll discuss 10 SCSS file structure best practices that will help you create a more organized and maintainable codebase. We’ll also look at some of the most popular SCSS file structure patterns and how to implement them in your project.
1. Use a single file for each component
By having a single file for each component, you can easily find and modify the code related to that component. This makes it easier to maintain your codebase since all of the code related to a particular component is in one place.
Additionally, this structure allows you to reuse components across different projects without needing to copy and paste code from multiple files. This helps keep your code DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself) and ensures consistency across projects. Finally, using a single file for each component also makes it easier to debug issues since you know exactly where to look for the code related to a particular component.
2. Group related files together in folders
When you group related files together, it makes it easier to find the file you need when you’re working on a project. It also helps keep your code organized and easy to read. This is especially important if you have multiple developers working on the same project.
For example, you could create folders for components, layouts, variables, mixins, etc. This way, all of the related files are in one place and can be easily accessed. Additionally, this structure allows you to quickly identify which files are related to each other and make changes accordingly.
3. Name your partials with an underscore at the beginning of the filename
Partials are files that contain code snippets, such as variables, mixins, and functions. By naming them with an underscore at the beginning of the filename, you can easily distinguish between partials and regular SCSS files. This makes it easier to find what you’re looking for when working on a project.
Additionally, this convention is supported by many popular build tools like Gulp and Webpack, which will automatically recognize these files as partials and not compile them into CSS. This helps keep your compiled CSS file size small and efficient.
4. Import all partial SCSS files into a main.scss file
When you import all of your partial SCSS files into a main.scss file, it allows for easier organization and maintenance of your code. This is because the main.scss file acts as an index that contains references to all of your other SCSS files. It also makes it easier to find specific pieces of code since they are all in one place.
Additionally, when you compile your main.scss file, it will generate a single CSS file with all of your styles combined. This helps reduce the number of HTTP requests needed to load your page, which can improve performance.
5. Only import global variables and mixins once
When you import global variables and mixins multiple times, it can lead to inconsistencies in your code. For example, if you have a variable defined in one file that is imported into another file, but then the same variable is redefined in the second file, this could cause unexpected behavior in your application.
By only importing global variables and mixins once, you ensure that all of your files are using the same definitions for these elements. This helps keep your code consistent and predictable, which makes debugging easier and reduces the risk of errors.
6. Break up large files into smaller ones
When you have a large SCSS file, it can be difficult to find the code you need. It’s also harder to keep track of changes and maintain consistency across your project. Breaking up your files into smaller ones makes it easier to locate specific pieces of code, as well as make sure that all of your styles are consistent.
Additionally, breaking up your files helps with performance. When you have fewer lines of code in each file, it takes less time for the browser to process them. This means faster loading times for your website or application.
7. Organize your media queries
Media queries are used to adjust the styling of a website based on different screen sizes. If you have all your media queries in one place, it makes them easier to find and edit when needed.
Organizing your media queries can be done by creating separate SCSS files for each breakpoint. For example, if you have three breakpoints (mobile, tablet, and desktop), then create three separate SCSS files: mobile.scss, tablet.scss, and desktop.scss. This way, you can easily locate and modify any specific media query without having to search through an entire file.
8. Keep your code DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself)
When you write code that is DRY, it’s easier to maintain and update. If you have a lot of repeated code, then when you need to make changes, you’ll have to go through each instance of the code and change it manually. This can be time-consuming and error-prone.
By keeping your code DRY, you can use variables, mixins, functions, and other techniques to reduce repetition and keep your code organized. This makes it much easier to make changes quickly and accurately.
9. Avoid nesting selectors
When you nest selectors, it can make your code more difficult to read and maintain. It also increases the specificity of your CSS rules, which can lead to unexpected results when overriding styles.
Instead of nesting selectors, use classes or IDs for styling elements. This will help keep your SCSS files organized and easier to understand. Additionally, it will reduce the amount of time needed to debug any issues that arise from overly specific selectors.
10. Don’t use IDs in your CSS
IDs are unique and can only be used once per page, which means that if you use an ID in your CSS, it will apply to one element on the page. This makes it difficult to reuse code or create global styles.
Instead of using IDs, use classes instead. Classes can be reused multiple times throughout a page, making them much more versatile than IDs. Additionally, classes make it easier to maintain your SCSS files since they can be organized into different folders based on their purpose.