20 SCSS Interview Questions and Answers

SCSS is a CSS pre-processor that allows developers to write more dynamic and robust CSS code. It is a popular tool among front-end developers and is often used in conjunction with other web development technologies. When interviewing for a position that requires SCSS knowledge, you can expect to be asked questions about your experience with the tool and how you would use it to solve various CSS problems. In this article, we will review some common SCSS interview questions and how you should answer them.

SCSS Interview Questions and Answers

Here are 20 commonly asked SCSS interview questions and answers to prepare you for your interview:

1. What is SCSS?

SCSS is a CSS pre-processor that allows you to use variables, nested rules, mixins, and inline imports in your CSS code. SCSS code is compiled into regular CSS code that can be used in any web project.

2. How do you create a variable in SCSS?

You can create a variable in SCSS by using the $ symbol followed by the name of the variable. For example, $main-color: #fff;

3. Can you explain the difference between an @extend and an @include directive?

The @extend directive allows you to share a set of CSS properties from one selector to another, while the @include directive allows you to include the properties of one mixin into another.

4. Why should I use SCSS instead of using CSS directly?

SCSS is a superset of CSS, which means that any valid CSS code is also valid SCSS code. SCSS adds extra features on top of CSS, such as variables, nesting, and mixins, which can make writing CSS code quicker and more efficient.

5. Is it possible to import only part of a Sass file? If yes, then how?

Yes, it is possible to import only part of a Sass file. You can do this by using the @import directive and specifying the path to the file that you want to import. You can also specify the specific part of the file that you want to import by using the @import directive and specifying the path to the file followed by the keyword “partial”.

6. What are some advantages of using SCSS over SASS?

SCSS is a newer version of SASS that offers a few advantages over its predecessor. One advantage is that it is more compatible with CSS, so you can use existing CSS code with SCSS without having to make any changes. SCSS also offers more control over the organization and nesting of your code, which can make your stylesheets more readable and easier to maintain.

7. What is nesting in SCSS?

Nesting is a feature in SCSS that allows you to write CSS code in a more structured and organized way. By nesting code, you can keep related code together, which can make your CSS more readable and maintainable.

8. How can we make our code more readable by defining variables in SCSS?

By defining variables in SCSS, we can make our code more readable by making it easier to see what values are being used where. This can be especially helpful when working with large or complex stylesheets. Additionally, by using variables we can more easily make changes to our code in one place and have those changes propagate throughout the stylesheet.

9. What’s the best way to define different styles for different screen sizes using SCSS?

The best way to define different styles for different screen sizes using SCSS is to use a media query. A media query is a CSS rule that allows you to specify different styles for different media types, such as screen size. For example, you could use a media query to define a style for screens that are less than 480px wide, and another style for screens that are 480px wide or more.

10. How do you select only specific elements from a list using SCSS?

You can use the ampersand (&) to select only specific elements from a list. For example, if you have a list of items and you only want to select the first and third items, you would use the following code:

list {
&:nth-child(1),
&:nth-child(3) {
// Styles go here
}
}

11. How do you remove duplicate items from a list using SCSS?

You can use the uniq() function to remove duplicate items from a list in SCSS.

12. What is the purpose of mixins in SCSS?

Mixins are a way to group together a set of CSS declarations that can then be reused throughout the stylesheet. This can be helpful for keeping your code DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself) and making your code more modular.

13. What is selector inheritance in SCSS?

Selector inheritance is a feature in SCSS that allows you to inherit the styles of one selector in another. This can be useful if you have a complex style that you want to apply to multiple elements, but don’t want to have to duplicate the code. To use selector inheritance, you simply use the @extend keyword followed by the selector you want to inherit from.

14. Can you give me some examples of when it’s useful to use placeholder selectors?

Placeholder selectors can be useful when you want to define a style that will be inherited by other elements, but you don’t want the style to be applied to the element itself. For example, you might use a placeholder selector to define a font style that will be inherited by all child elements, but you don’t want the font style to be applied to the parent element.

15. How does one set up media queries in SCSS?

You can set up media queries in SCSS by using the @media rule. This rule allows you to specify the conditions under which a certain style will be applied. For example, you could use a media query to only apply a certain style when the screen width is less than 600px.

16. Can you explain what pseudo-classes are? Give me some examples.

Pseudo-classes are used to target elements based on certain conditions, such as the element’s state (e.g. :hover) or location (e.g. :first-child).

17. What do you understand about operators in SCSS?

SCSS has a variety of operators available which can be used to perform mathematical operations on values, or to create new values by combining existing ones. The most common operators are +, -, *, and /, but there are also a number of others available, including % (modulo), and ^ (exponentiation). You can also use the operators to concatenate strings, or to compare values for equality, inequality, greater than, less than, etc.

18. What is the difference between using if() and & when() directives in SCSS?

The if() directive is used for simple conditionals, while the & when() directive is used for more complex conditionals. If you only need to check for a single condition, then you can use if(). However, if you need to check for multiple conditions or for conditions that are based on variables, then you will need to use & when().

19. What is the main reason most developers prefer using SCSS over LESS?

The main reason developers prefer using SCSS over LESS is that SCSS is a superset of CSS, meaning that any valid CSS code is also valid SCSS code. This makes it much easier for developers to transition from CSS to SCSS, as there is no need to learn a new syntax. SCSS also has a number of additional features that are not available in CSS, such as nested rules, variables, and mixins.

20. What is the best way to add comments in SCSS?

The best way to add comments in SCSS is to use the // single-line comment syntax. This will ensure that your comments are not compiled into the final CSS file.