What Are The Five Essential Features Of Bootstrap You Should Remember Before Getting Down To Work?

When designing a website with HTML, you will need a toolkit that is easy to use and minimizes the need for coding. Bootstrap is a time-tested front-end framework that leverages HTML, CSS and JS for creating bespoke webpages. Since 2011, the framework has expanded and evolved. Right now, it powers more than 18 million websites that cater to billions of users across the globe.

Bootstrap is a framework, and it is also a library, according to some. It provides the user with a reliable platform that utilizes CSS3 for powering complex yet smooth websites. Its flexibility is one of the few reasons Bootstrap is still relevant and popular eight years after its initial debut.

If you are thinking about using Bootstrap for your upcoming project, here are the five things you must never forget

i.  Responsiveness

Bootstrap is an integrally responsive framework that leverages a fluid 12-grid system for creating mobile-ready websites. Today, it uses two patterns depending on which of their components serve the needs of a project better.

The grid system: this is the proverbial mobile-first flexbox system that lays down the 12-column width metrics for the site layout. Its responsiveness has five tiers.

The flex system: the flex system allows quicker and easier management of individual Bootstrap components like the size of columns in the grid or the layout of content within the grid.

ii.  REBOOT

The bootstrap CSS reset style-sheet is Reboot. It imbibes the true CSS inherit value and provides eclectic HTML elements in diverse styles using element selectors. It is based on Normalize, and all additional styling requires classes. Visit the Designmodo Bootstrap themes to find out more about the new Reboot feature of Bootstrap 4 themes and templates.

iii.   Responsive Breakpoints

Building complex responsive layouts are more straightforward due to the presence of five sets of predefined classes. The five classes cover extra-large, large, medium, small and extra-small screen widths.

The table above contains all the responsive breakpoints and classes.

iv.  Utilities

Utilities is a part of Bootstrap I that is responsible for CSS styling. CSS is the primary component that you need to utilize for customization. They are easy to customize using bootstrap reboot. Some of the most useful utilities include –

• Color
• Border
• Positioning
• Text
• Display
• Flex
• Padding
• Margin

v.  Components

Bootstrap has several components. You can choose whichever element your website design project demands. The lion's share of all Bootstrap components come with default breakpoints for fitting all screen sizes. Some of these components come with their JS integrated, so you don't have to worry about coding or editing the codes.

Some of the Bootstrap components include –

• Modals
• List groups
• Alerts
• Dropdowns
• Carousel

This is not the complete list of Bootstrap components that come with a template or theme, but merely a glance at the most popular components necessary for website development.

What has changed in Bootstrap?

Right now, the world is moving on from the older versions of Bootstrap onto Bootstrap 4. The latest Bootstrap version brings forth the following changes

i.  Border-box value

Bootstrap 4 brings new border-box value. Bootstrap version 3 and earlier bore the border-box value to the content box. The fourth version has changed it to the border-box.

ii.  Opinionated CSS styles

All Bootstrap templates belonging to the latest generation of framework bear a CSS Reset style-sheet. The Bootstrap Reboot fosters the true spirit of CSS in terms of flexibly and customization in the theme. It can avoid margin-top and use the rem unit.

Why should you learn Bootstrap?

Bootstrap is a front-end framework that has been around and will remain relevant for years to come. Therefore, learning to work on Bootstrap is the best long-term investment for all website developers and designers, who want to continue making awesome dynamic websites for years to come.

Here are some reasons we have learned Bootstrap

i.  Ample customization options

You can customize every component and utility without getting into the intricacies of CSS and JavaScript. You don’t need to learn how to code to get a bespoke website with a flurry of functionalities. The easy customization options for Bootstrap draws thousands of developers and designers to learn its ins and outs.

ii.  Rapid prototyping

Any website developer in search of fast prototyping should stick to Bootstrap. Fast prototyping has been the niche feature of Bootstrap, so learning to use it will indeed be a long-term investment. This framework allows all users to pick the different modules they want to choose.

iii.  Complete responsiveness

A complete responsive design is something beginners seek. Therefore, Bootstrap is something you can think about learning the moment you begin designing your first website. The inherent responsive design is what incentivizes most designers to adopt Bootstrap instead of other available front-end frameworks.

As the new version of Bootstrap moves from LESS to Sass, we can also expect a faster compilation with fewer glitches during the process. The new grid system is brilliant, smooth and easy to modify without getting into the details of codes. You can create as many rows and nested columns for your mobile-ready layout. The overhauled grid system offers better responsiveness for all types and sizes of screens.

How does Bootstrap help in the creation of world-class websites?

Research shows that a large part of a website’s organic traffic is from mobile devices. Not optimizing a website for mobile viewing can do away with more than 52% of the site’s traffic and take a hefty toll on its sales as well. It is only reasonable that most site designers now begin their project with a template that supports mobile viewing.

The advantage of sticking to a responsive template is getting to work with elements that are also responsive from the start. Currently, Bootstrap 4 comes with an opt-in Flexbox. The CSS3 Flexbox mode offers an entirely responsive layout for each element of the template and the website. The only clause is that it works on browsers higher than IE9. 

Bootstrap has been the go-to framework for site developers and designers for almost a decade. The constant improvement and evolution of the platform cum library