8.1. Introducing CSS Layout

If a picture's worth a thousand words, one Web site's worth at least several pages of explanation. To really grasp the power of CSS-based layout, point your favorite Web browser to www.csszengarden.com (Figure 8-1). Once there, click any of the designs listed in the "Select a Design" box.

Each design is an example of CSS-based layout. In fact, you may be surprised to realize that the HTML code for the page is the same in every one of these designs. The only difference is the style sheet used to format the page. The designers of major Web sites like ESPN.com, Wired.com, and Macworld.com have abandoned table designs in favor of CSS, because CSS offers easy format updates and smaller file sizes (which means faster downloads).