CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is the art of shaping the visual presentation of web pages. While popular properties like margin, padding, and color are well-known, there exists a realm of lesser-known CSS properties that can wield significant influence on your designs. These underrated properties offer precise control, enhanced responsiveness, and improved user experiences. In this blog, we'll explore some of these hidden treasures and reveal their remarkable potential.

object-fit and object-position: Perfecting Image Handling

When dealing with images that need to fit within specific dimensions while maintaining their aspect ratio, the object-fit property shines. It allows you to define how the image should fit within its container, whether by covering it, containing it, or preserving its aspect ratio. Pair it with object-position to control the image's alignment within the container, creating visually pleasing results.

will-change: Optimizing Performance

The will-change property might not be in the limelight, but it's an optimization powerhouse. By informing the browser about upcoming changes in specific properties, you preemptively tell it to allocate resources accordingly. This can lead to smoother animations and transitions, minimizing performance bottlenecks.

display: table and Flexbox order: Layout Flexibility

While Flexbox and Grid are the stars of layout, display: table can offer a simple yet effective way to control layout behavior. It mimics table behavior without the actual table structure, allowing for both horizontal and vertical centering. Additionally, the Flexbox order property lets you rearrange elements without altering their source order, providing greater control over responsive layouts.

caret-color: Customizing Text Cursor Color

Have you ever wanted to change the color of the blinking text cursor in input fields? Look no further than the caret-color property. It lets you modify the color of the text cursor, aligning it with your overall design aesthetic.

resize: Resizable Elements

Creating resizable elements like textareas is made effortless with the resize property. It allows users to adjust the size of elements horizontally, vertically, or both, providing them with control and enhancing usability.

scroll-behavior: Smooth Scrolling

Scrolling through long pages can feel jarring, but the scroll-behavior property offers a remedy. When set to smooth, it imparts a smooth scrolling effect, providing a more polished and user-friendly experience.

outline-offset: Refined Outlines

While outline is often used for accessibility purposes, the outline-offset property takes it a step further. It lets you create space between the outline and the element, enhancing both aesthetics and accessibility.

Conclusion:

In the vast realm of CSS, there's a treasure trove of underrated properties waiting to be discovered. By incorporating properties like object-fit, will-change, display: table, Flexbox order, caret-color, resize, and scroll-behavior, you're harnessing the full power of CSS to create designs that are not only visually pleasing but also highly functional and user-centric. Embrace these hidden gems, experiment with their applications, and watch as your designs transform into responsive, user-friendly masterpieces. After all, it's the thoughtful application of these underrated properties that sets your designs apart and adds that touch of magic to your web pages.