Is it possible to include one CSS file in another?

820
votes

Is it possible to include one CSS file in another?

17
css
Just an fyi, doing this does not save an HTTP request. It just saves you from having to include the imported .css file somewhere else. – T. Brian Jones
I would be almost the same as including another CSS before and not the best of practices – Gaizka Allende

17 Answers

1135
votes

Yes:

@import url("base.css");

Note:

  • The @import rule must precede all other rules (except @charset).
  • Additional @import statements require additional server requests. As an alternative, concatenate all CSS into one file to avoid multiple HTTP requests. For example, copy the contents of base.css and special.css into base-special.css and reference only base-special.css.
153
votes

Yes. Importing CSS file into another CSS file is possible.

It must be the first rule in the style sheet using the @import rule.

@import "mystyle.css";
@import url("mystyle.css");

The only caveat is that older web browsers will not support it. In fact, this is one of the CSS 'hack' to hide CSS styles from older browsers.

Refer to this list for browser support.

42
votes

The @import url("base.css"); works fine but bear in mind that every @import statement is a new request to the server. This might not be a problem for you, but when optimal performance is required you should avoid the @import.

30
votes

The CSS @import rule does just that. E.g.,

@import url('/css/common.css');
@import url('/css/colors.css');
17
votes

Yes.

@import "your.css";

The rule is documented here.

12
votes

In some cases it is possible using @import "file.css", and most modern browsers should support this, older browsers such as NN4, will go slightly nuts.

Note: the import statement must precede all other declarations in the file, and test it on all your target browsers before using it in production.

8
votes

Yes, use @import

detailed info easily googled for, a good one at http://webdesign.about.com/od/beginningcss/f/css_import_link.htm

7
votes

yes it is possible using @import and providing the path of css file e.g.

@import url("mycssfile.css");

or 

@import "mycssfile.css";
6
votes

@import("/path-to-your-styles.css");

That is the best way to include a css stylesheet within a css stylesheet using css.

6
votes

The "@import" rule could calls in multiple styles files. These files are called by the browser or User Agent when needed e.g. HTML tags call the CSS.

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN"
"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="EN" dir="ltr">
<head>
<title>Using @import</title>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" />
<style type="text/css">
@import url("main.css");
</style>
</head>
<body>
</body>
</html>

CSS File "main.css" Contains The Following Syntax:

@import url("fineprint.css") print;
@import url("bluish.css") projection, tv;
@import 'custom.css';
@import url("chrome://communicator/skin/");
@import "common.css" screen, projection;
@import url('landscape.css') screen and (orientation:landscape);

To insert in style element use createTexNode don't use innerHTML but:

<script>
var style = document.createElement('style');
style.setAttribute("type", "text/css");
var textNode = document.createTextNode("
    @import 'fineprint.css' print;
    @import 'bluish.css' projection, tv;
    @import 'custom.css';
    @import 'chrome://communicator/skin/';
    @import 'common.css' screen, projection;
    @import 'landscape.css' screen and (orientation:landscape);
");
style.appendChild(textNode);
</script>
2
votes
@import url('style.css');

As opposed to the best answer, it is not recommended to aggregate all CSS files into one chunk when using HTTP/2.0

2
votes

Import bootstrap with altervista and wordpress

I use this to import bootstrap.css in altervista with wordpress

@import url("https://maxcdn.bootstrapcdn.com/bootstrap/3.3.7/css/bootstrap.min.css");

and it works fine, as it would delete the html link rel code if I put it into a page

1
votes

Yes You can import easily one css to another (any where in website) You have to use like:

@import url("url_path");
0
votes

sing the CSS @import Rule here

@import url('/css/header.css') screen;
@import url('/css/content.css') screen;
@import url('/css/sidebar.css') screen;
@import url('/css/print.css') print;
0
votes

I have created main.css file and included all css files in it.

We can include only one main.css file

@import url('style.css');
@import url('platforms.css');
0
votes

For whatever reason, @import didn't work for me, but it's not really necessary is it?

Here's what I did instead, within the html:

  <link rel="stylesheet" media="print" href="myap-print.css">
  <link rel="stylesheet" media="print" href="myap-screen.css">
  <link rel="stylesheet" media="screen" href="myap-screen.css">

Notice that media="print" has 2 stylesheets: myap-print.css and myap-screen.css. It's the same effect as including myap-screen.css within myap-print.css.

-3
votes

I stumbled upon this and I just wanted to say PLEASE DON'T USE @IMPORT IN CSS!!!! The import statement is sent to the client and the client does another request. If you want to divide your CSS between various files use Less. In Less the import statement happens on the server and the output is cached and does not create a performance penalty by forcing the client to make another connection. Sass is also an option another not one I have explored. Frankly, if you are not using Less or Sass then you should start. http://willseitz-code.blogspot.com/2013/01/using-less-to-manage-css-files.html