Cascading Style Sheets (level 3 – CSS3) Features

As every web developer knows that Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) is used to give style and control the layout of web pages and the latest standard of Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) is CSS3. There are many exciting new functions and features like advanced Text Effects, modules etc.
One of the important differences between CSS2 and CSS3 is modules, which means CSS3 has been split up into different sections.

Some important CSS3 modules are:

• Selectors
• Box Model
• Backgrounds and Borders
• Text Effects
• 2D/3D Transformations
• Animations
• Multiple Column Layout
• User Interface

There are around 40 CSS modules have been published through the CSS working Group, including Selectors, Namespaces, Color and Media Queries.

Some features of CSS3 are:

Selectors:
New selector in CSS3 will allow the web developer to select more specific levels of the document.
CSS3 Attribute Selectors
[att^=val] – the “begins with” selector
[att$=val] – the “ends with” selector
[att*=val] – the “contains” selector

Border Radius:
It is possible to make rounded corners without using images, JavaScript and its one of the best feature of CSS3.

Box Shadow:
Prior to CSS3 a designer must use an image or JavaScript to apply a shadow effect, but using CSS3 we can give shadow effect to almost every element of web page.

Multiple Backgrounds:
Using CSS3 it is possible to create multiple backgrounds on a single element.

Opacity:
One of the good features, and also probably most already used CSS3 feature.

It is sure that CSS3 will become a powerful tool for web developers in coming years, if it’s supported by web browsers and user-agents.

Here is an updated list of CSS3 Module Status.