CSS

The CSS for this website is written using SCSS for preprocessing. Gulp sass handles the compiling, check out the Gulpfile.js within the theme for more information.

Using ITCSS as a methodology, the CSS is designed to be as passive and non-specific as possible. It is broken down into the following chunks with each section becoming more specific as you head down the list:

1. Settings
2. Tools
3. Generic
4. Elements
5. Objects
6. Components
7. Trumps

When expanding the site, try to analyse the element to ensure the CSS is placed in the correct area(s).

• Only use classes, no IDs please
• Use tabs for indentation
• Mobile-up media queries
• Class naming conventions (BEM like):
  • module
  • module-sub-element
  • module modifier or module module-modifier

Example

.class {
	text-transform: uppercase;
	border-radius: 0;
	@include bold;
	padding: 1rem 3.3rem 1rem 1.5rem;
	margin: 0;
	border: 0;
}

HTML

The site has been built using the Atomic Design concepts put forward by Brad Frost. Individual elements are atoms, they group together to become molecules, organisms, templates and finally pages. Each element is modular, therefore it should not be assumed that the element will appear on one page or in one place only.

Second-Level Heading Linked

Third-Level Heading Linked

Fourth-Level Heading Linked

Fifth-Level Heading Linked

Sixth-Level Heading Linked

Paragraphs

Paragraphs are wrapped in p tags and will usually make up the majority of website content.

Horizontal rule

The hr element represents a thematic break between paragraph-level elements, e.g. a scene change in a story, or a topic-shift within a section. This example from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Lewis Carroll, 1832-98, demonstrates this element.

Blockquotes

The blockquote element represents a section that is being quoted from another source.

Ordered list

The ol element denotes an ordered list, and various numbering schemes are available through the CSS (including 1,2,3… a,b,c… i,ii,iii… and so on). Each item requires a surrounding <li> and </li> tag, to denote individual items within the list (as you may have guessed, li stands for list item).

Unordered list

The ul element denotes an unordered list (ie. a list of loose items that don’t require numbering, or a bulleted list). Again, each item requires a surrounding <li> and </li> tag, to denote individual items. Here is an example list showing the constituent parts of the British Isles:

Definition list

The dl element is for another type of list called a definition list. Instead of list items, the content of a dl consists of dt (Definition Term) and dd (Definition description) pairs. Though it may be called a “definition list”, dl can apply to other scenarios where a parent/child relationship is applicable. For example, it may be used for marking up dialogues, with each dt naming a speaker, and each dd containing his or her words.

Quotes

The blockquote element should be used to denote quotations. The cite element can be used in conjunction to denote the quote author:

There are a number of inline HTML elements you may use anywhere within other elements.

Links and anchors

The a element is used to hyperlink text, be that to another page, a named fragment on the current page or any other location on the web. Example:

Stressed emphasis

The em element is used to denote text with stressed emphasis, i.e., something you’d pronounce differently. Where italicizing is required for stylistic differentiation, the i element may be preferable. Example:

Strong importance

The strong element is used to denote text with strong importance. Where bolding is used for stylistic differentiation, the b element may be preferable. Example:

Small print

The small element is used to represent disclaimers, caveats, legal restrictions, or copyrights (commonly referred to as ‘small print’). It can also be used for attributions or satisfying licensing requirements. Example:

Strikethrough

The s element is used to represent content that is no longer accurate or relevant. When indicating document edits i.e., marking a span of text as having been removed from a document, use the del element instead. Example:

Citations

The cite element is used to represent the title of a work (e.g. a book, essay, poem, song, film, TV show, sculpture, painting, musical, exhibition, etc). This can be a work that is being quoted or referenced in detail (i.e. a citation), or it can just be a work that is mentioned in passing. Example:

Inline quotes

The q element is used for quoting text inline. Example showing nested quotations:

Definition

The dfn element is used to highlight the first use of a term. The title attribute can be used to describe the term. Example:

Abbreviation

The abbr element is used for any abbreviated text, whether it be acronym, initialism, or otherwise. Generally, it’s less work and useful (enough) to mark up only the first occurrence of any particular abbreviation on a page, and ignore the rest. Any text in the title attribute will appear when the user’s mouse hovers the abbreviation (although notably, this does not work in Internet Explorer for Windows). Example abbreviations:

Time

The time element is used to represent either a time on a 24 hour clock, or a precise date in the proleptic Gregorian calendar, optionally with a time and a time-zone offset. Example:

Code

The code element is used to represent fragments of computer code. Useful for technology-oriented sites, not so useful otherwise. Example:

Used in conjunction with the pre element:

function getJelly() {
    echo $aDeliciousSnack;
}

Sample output

The samp element is used to represent (sample) output from a program or computing system. Useful for technology-oriented sites, not so useful otherwise. Example:

Keyboard entry

The kbd element is used to denote user input (typically via a keyboard, although it may also be used to represent other input methods, such as voice commands). Example:

Superscript and subscript text

The sup element represents a superscript and the sub element represents a sub. These elements must be used only to mark up typographical conventions with specific meanings, not for typographical presentation. As a guide, only use these elements if their absence would change the meaning of the content. Example:

Italicised

The i element is used for text in an alternate voice or mood, or otherwise offset from the normal prose. Examples include taxonomic designations, technical terms, idiomatic phrases from another language, the name of a ship or other spans of text whose typographic presentation is typically italicised. Example:

Emboldened

The b element is used for text stylistically offset from normal prose without conveying extra importance, such as key words in a document abstract, product names in a review, or other spans of text whose typographic presentation is typically emboldened. Example:

Marked or highlighted text

The mark element is used to represent a run of text marked or highlighted for reference purposes. When used in a quotation it indicates a highlight not originally present but added to bring the reader’s attention to that part of the text. When used in the main prose of a document, it indicates a part of the document that has been highlighted due to its relevance to the user’s current activity. Example:

Edits

The del element is used to represent deleted or retracted text which still must remain on the page for some reason. Meanwhile its counterpart, the ins element, is used to represent inserted text. Both del and ins have a datetime attribute which allows you to include a timestamp directly in the element. Example inserted text and usage: