Purge CSS is a process used to remove unused CSS rules from your stylesheet. It's particularly useful when you're using a large CSS framework or have a lot of custom CSS that you're not fully utilizing. Tailwind CSS includes a built-in tool called PurgeCSS that can automatically remove unused classes from your CSS bundle, resulting in smaller file sizes and faster loading times for your web application.
Workings of PurgeCSS:
- Analysis: It scans your HTML templates, JavaScript files, or any other content where CSS classes might be used.
- Identification: PurgeCSS extracts all the CSS selectors used in your content.
- Comparison: It then compares the extracted selectors with the actual selectors defined in your CSS files.
- Removal: Any CSS selectors that aren't used in your content are purged from the final CSS file.
Advantages of PurgeCSS:
- Reduced File Size: Smaller CSS files translate to faster loading times for your web pages.
- Improved Performance: By eliminating unused styles, your website will render quicker.
- Better Cacheability: Smaller CSS files can be cached more effectively by browsers.