Which CSS framework is better- Tailwind or Bootstrap?

The HTML elements of a webpage can be styled using the stylesheet language CSS (Cascading Style Sheets). A CSS framework is a library that makes it easier for developers to create websites that adhere to more standards. Because these libraries are ready to use, there is no need to create laborious and drawn-out CSS programs.

A CSS framework gives you the ability to swiftly create a user-interface that can be reused throughout the entire project rather than having to start each one from scratch. The common uses for CSS frameworks include creating navigation bars, headers, footers, offcanvas, sliders, hamburger menus, horizontal scroll, accordion, three-column layouts, and many more. The frameworks also allow for the advancement of SASS, SCSS, JavaScript, and other technologies.

During shortage of time for the web developers, frameworks act as helping tool in designing webpages like homepage, without even using the entire CSS codes. We will talk about the two well-known CSS frameworks, Bootstrap and Tailwind CSS, in this article. Also, we will discuss about which framework is better.

First let’s understand about what are these two frameworks.

Bootstrap

A free open-source CSS framework called Bootstrap is used to build mobile and web applications that are responsive. It is a front-end development framework that prioritises mobile. For various components, it has HTML, CSS, and JavaScript templates. Jacob Thorton and Mark Otto created Bootstrap.

It is one of the most widely used open-source frameworks. It allows programmers to design server-side technologies like Java, PHP, and others to build web- and mobile-based apps. It is used to construct apps that can run on a variety of platforms, including desktop, laptop, tablet, and mobile. Versions 2 and 3 of Bootstrap supported responsive web apps, while version 4 of Bootstrap now supports SASSs and Flexbox.

It is a potent front end development framework. Developers have access to pre-made themes and templates. The rate of development is accelerated by this. The concept of mobile-first, in which the screen is divided into a grid of 12 squares, has been introduced. It guarantees compatibility across all browsers. It can be altered to suit the requirements of the project. For HTML components including buttons, pictures, icons, tables, forms, code, maps, alarms, progress bars, dropdowns, and more, it offers foundation styling.

To apply Bootstrap in your web application, use the following CDN link −

"https://stackpath.bootstrapcdn.com/bootstrap/4.3.1/css/bootstrap.min.css"

Tailwind CSS

Tailwind CSS was developed by Adam Wathan. Tailwind CSS is a utility-first and lowlevel framework of CSS. It provides classes with a single use that may be applied directly to styling elements on a webpage. The ability to quickly design customised user interfaces is provided to the developers. A well-known utility-first CSS library is Tailwind CSS.

Because most user interface creation tools already contain common components and functionality, it might be challenging for developers to design a distinctive UI. Tailwind CSS, on the other hand, gives you a lot of control over how an element will seem and behave. It is ideal for designing distinctive and personalised user interfaces because of this.

The utility classes available are local, that is, you can update or modify without disturbing or breaking the web application. It might not be possible to do the same by using pure CSS. It is highly customizable thus, enables us to create unique UI. It offers various features like different colour palettes, styling, spacing etc.,

To apply Tailwind CSS in your web page, use the following CDN link −

”https://unpkg.com/tailwindcss@^1.0/dist/tailwind.min.css”

Tailwind CSS or Bootstrap

The key distinction between Bootstrap and Tailwind CSS is that Bootstrap includes a set of pre-styled responsive, mobile-first components with a specific UI kit, whereas Tailwind offers predesigned widgets to construct a site from scratch with quick UI development.

• The biggest problem with Bootstrap is that programmers are limited to using a few particular abstraction patterns. The objective of adopting a framework in the first place is completely defeated because it forces you to override it with custom CSS.

• Sites made with Bootstrap adhere to the same general pattern, giving them a uniform appearance. Without a doubt, it makes it difficult to use creativity successfully. Additionally, the total file size for Bootstrap, including the main file, Bootstrap JS, Popper.js, and jQuery, is 308kb.

• In contrast, Tailwind CSS uses a collection of utility classes to design a slick user interface with more flexibility. With the aid of predesigned widgets, the design can be implemented without concern for how one part will impact a related piece.

• Classes can be used to set focus states, hover, and active, for instance. Additionally, by using PurgeCSS to remove the unnecessary classes, you may significantly reduce the file size. That is why Tailwind can be a good option for a light project since it only needs the base stylesheet file, which can be up to 27kb in size.

• When it comes to performance, the four primary Bootstrap files that must be included during development take up around 300 kb of space. We have too much overhead code in Bootstrap, which extends the build time by about 160 seconds. Style sheets are needed for Tailwind CSS. This CSS file is roughly 30 kb in size

Due to the utility libraries that Tailwind already includes, the build time can be cut by up to 8 to 10 seconds.

To answer the question Which CSS framework is better, it depends on the developer’s choice and the need of the project. If you are a full-stack developer or back-end developer, then go with Bootstrap. If you are a front-end developer, use Tailwind for the customization the project. But the main verdict is decided by the users’ demand and need of the project. If your project requires common structural layouts and more of responsiveness and user interaction, then go for Bootstrap. Whereas if your project is for personalised company or firm, which requires customized designs and unique features, then Tailwind CSS is preferred.

Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed about the most frequently asked question among the developers that is, which CSS framework is better- Tailwind or Bootstrap. The answer is that is depends on the choice of developer and demand of the client.