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Glossary of Terms

We have compiled this list of terms and definitions to help you better understand the terminology used within the web development community.

Inline CSS

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Inline CSS is styling code placed directly inside your HTML rather than in a separate stylesheet. A small amount can help pages render faster on first load, but too much makes your code harder to maintain and harder for browsers to cache. Keeping inline styles minimal is usually the better approach.

Inline CSS

Inline CSS is styling written directly on an HTML element using the style attribute — like <p style="color:red;">. It gets applied immediately without waiting for an external stylesheet to load. A small amount of inline CSS (sometimes called "critical CSS") can speed up the initial paint of a page, but going overboard makes your HTML bloated, your code repetitive, and your styles impossible to cache.

Why It Matters

  • Critical inline CSS speeds up first paint. Inlining the styles needed for above-the-fold content means the browser can render the visible part of the page immediately, without waiting for an external stylesheet to download.
  • Too much inline CSS bloats your HTML. Every page carries its own copy of the styles, making the HTML document larger. Unlike external stylesheets, inline styles cannot be cached and reused across pages.
  • It makes maintenance difficult. When you need to change a color or font size that is scattered across dozens of inline style attributes, you have to find and update every single one. External stylesheets let you change it in one place.
  • It increases page weight on repeated visits. External CSS files get cached by the browser — returning visitors do not need to download them again. Inline styles ride along with the HTML every single time, adding to the download on every page load.

How to Use It Wisely

  1. Inline only critical styles. Identify the CSS needed to render the above-the-fold content and inline just that. This gives users something to see immediately while the full stylesheet loads in the background.
  2. Keep everything else in external files. All non-critical styles should live in external CSS files where they can be cached, minified, and maintained in a single location.
  3. Automate critical CSS extraction. Do not try to manually pick which styles to inline. Build tools can automatically extract the critical CSS for each page and inline it during deployment.
  4. Avoid using style attributes on individual elements. Inline styles via the style attribute on elements should be a last resort. They override external styles, are hard to maintain, and cannot use pseudo-classes or media queries.
  5. Load the full stylesheet asynchronously. After inlining the critical CSS, load the full stylesheet with a non-blocking technique so it does not delay the initial render while still being available for below-the-fold content.

Common Mistakes

  • Inlining the entire stylesheet. Dumping your whole CSS file into the HTML defeats the purpose. You lose caching, bloat the document, and gain nothing — the browser still has to parse all of it before rendering.
  • Using inline styles instead of classes. Writing style="font-size:14px; color:#333;" on every paragraph is a maintenance nightmare. Use CSS classes in an external stylesheet for consistency and easy updates.
  • Forgetting to load the external stylesheet. If you inline critical CSS but never load the full stylesheet, below-the-fold content will appear unstyled. Make sure the external file still loads — just non-blockingly.
  • Letting CMS plugins inject excessive inline styles. Some plugins and page builders dump enormous amounts of inline CSS into the HTML. Check your page source periodically to catch this bloat.
Bottom Line: Inline a small amount of critical CSS to speed up the first paint, but keep the bulk of your styles in external, cacheable stylesheets. Avoid style attributes on individual elements — they are hard to maintain and impossible to cache.
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Synonyms: Inline Styles, Style Attribute

What Does "Liquid Purple" mean?

noun | / LIK-wid PUR-pul /

  1. (biochemistry) Also known as visual purple or rhodopsin — a light-sensitive receptor protein found in the rods of the retina. It enables vision in dim light by transforming invisible darkness into visible form. Derived from the Greek rhódon (rose) and ópsis (sight), its name reflects its delicate pink hue and vital role in perception.

  2. (modern usage) Liquid Purple — a digital marketing agency specializing in uncovering unseen opportunities and illuminating brands hidden in the digital dark. Much like its biological namesake, Liquid Purple transforms faint signals into clear visibility — revealing what others overlook and bringing businesses into the light.

Origin: From the scientific term rhodopsin, discovered by Franz Christian Boll in 1876; adopted metaphorically by a marketing firm dedicated to visual clarity in the age of algorithms.

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For over 20 years, Liquid Purple has been headquartered in the heart of Southern California, serving clients across Irvine, Newport Beach, Anaheim, and the greater Los Angeles area. While we are proud of our local roots, our digital reach extends far beyond our local area. We support businesses in major hubs like Denver, Dallas, New York, and Miami, as well as international clients. Our ability to operate across time zones means you can often wake up to completed tasks and progress updates—keeping your business moving while you sleep.