Format and Optimize CSS Code
Operation Type
Input CSS
Output CSS
Common Questions
What is a CSS Minifier?
A CSS minifier is a tool that removes unnecessary characters from CSS files, such as whitespace, comments, and formatting, to reduce file size. The purpose of minification is to create smaller files that load faster on websites, improving user experience and reducing bandwidth consumption.
What is a CSS Beautifier?
A CSS beautifier (or formatter) does the opposite of minification - it organizes CSS code with proper indentation, spacing, and line breaks to make it more readable and maintainable for developers. This is particularly useful when you need to edit or debug CSS that has been previously minified or poorly formatted.
Does minifying CSS affect how it works?
No, properly minified CSS maintains the exact same functionality as the original code. Minification only removes characters that are unnecessary for browsers to interpret the code, such as comments, whitespace, and redundant semicolons. The browser interprets minified CSS exactly the same way as the original.
How much file size reduction can I expect?
The amount of file size reduction depends on the original CSS code, but typically you can expect 20-40% reduction in file size. CSS with many comments, consistent formatting, and longer descriptive class names will see more dramatic size reduction through minification.
When should I use minified CSS?
You should use minified CSS in production environments where page load speed and bandwidth usage are important. For development, it's better to work with formatted CSS for readability and debugging. A common practice is to maintain a readable source version and use build tools to automatically generate minified versions for production.
Are there any risks to using CSS minification?
The main risk with minification is potentially introducing syntax errors if the minifier doesn't handle certain edge cases correctly. That's why it's important to test your CSS after minification to ensure it still functions as expected. Modern minifiers like the one in this tool are designed to handle all valid CSS without breaking functionality.