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Vanza Setia
Vanza Setia

Posted on • Updated on • Originally published at vanzasetia.site

5 Handy Sass Code Snippets

#webdev #tutorial #sass #mentoring

These code snippets will help you write media queries, convert px to rem, and much more!

Disclaimer

I use Dart Sass. So, I can make sure that these functions and mixins are working.

I recommend using it since this is the latest and recommended Sass compiler. You can install it with NPM.

# save as dev dependency
npm i -D sass

# install globally
npm i -g sass
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Also, I use SCSS syntax.

Visual Studio Code Extensions

It may not be compatible with Live Sass Compiler which uses LibSass under the hood. LibSass is deprecated. So, it doesn't support new features from Sass.

There's the new Live Sass Compiler. I never try this. So, you may want to give it try. If it doesn't work then install Sass through NPM instead.

rem() Function 

@use "sass:math";

@function rem($number) {
  @if unitless($number) {
    $default-one-rem-in-pixel: 16;

    @return math.div($number, $default-one-rem-in-pixel) * 1rem;
  }

  @error "Sorry, this '#{$number}' must have not any unit";
}
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This is the most-used function. It allows me to input pixel value. Then, converts into rem value.

Example of the usage:

/* SCSS */
body {
  font-size: rem(20);
}

/* CSS */
body {
  font-size: 1.25rem;
}
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Let me explain the rem() function.

  • First, the function checks if 20 has no unit. Since it has no unit then it moves to the next step.
  • The next step is to divide 20 by 16 which gives us 1.25.
  • Lastly, to give it a unit, it does: 1.25 x 1rem = 1.25rem. This is the value that gets returned.

To trigger the error, we can pass in 20px for example. This will give us the following output.

Error: "Sorry, this '20px' must have not any unit"
  â•·
4 │   font-size: rem(20px);
  │              ^^^^^^^^^
  ╵
  scss\base\_reset.scss 4:14  @forward
  scss\base\_index.scss 1:1   @use
  scss\main.scss 3:1          root stylesheet
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I've realized that the error message is saying "Sorry". I guess that's not needed. 😂

on-event() Mixin 

@mixin on-event() {
  &:hover,
  &:active {
    @content;
  }
}
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The example of the usage.

/* SCSS */
.link {
  color: white;

  @include on-event {
    color: black;
  }
}

/* CSS */
.link {
  color: white;
}

.link:hover,
.link:active {
  color: black;
}
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Media Query Breakpoints 

@mixin breakpoint-up($size) {
  @media screen and (min-width: map-get($breakpoints-up, $size)) {
    @content;
  }
}

@mixin breakpoint-down($size) {
  @media screen and (max-width: map-get($breakpoints-down, $size)) {
    @content;
  }
}
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This one is the most-used mixin.

It takes a map which is a key-value pair. You can think of it as an object in JavaScript.

$breakpoints-up: (
  "tiny": 40em,
  "very-small": 48em,
  "small": 69.375em,
);

$breakpoints-down: (
  "tiny": 39.9275em,
  "very-small": 47.9375em,
  "small": 69.3125em,
);
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To get the value of the map, use map-get(). Use @debug to test the SCSS code.

@debug map-get($breakpoints-up, "tiny"); // Debug: 40em
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The example of the usage.

/* SCSS */
body {
  background-image: url("../images/pattern-mobile.svg");

  @include breakpoint-up("small") {
    background-image: url("../images/pattern-desktop.svg");
  }
}

/* CSS */
body {
  background-image: url("../images/pattern-mobile.svg");
}

@media screen and (min-width: 69.375em) {
  body {
    background-image: url("../images/pattern-desktop.svg");
  }
}
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prefers-motion Mixin 

@mixin prefers-motion() {
  @media screen and (prefers-reduced-motion: no-preference) {
    @content;
  }
}
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The example of the usage.

/* SCSS */
.link {
  color: white;

  @include on-event {
    color: black;
  }

  @include prefers-motion {
    transition: color 200ms ease-in-out;
  }
}

/* CSS */
.link {
  color: white;
}

.link:hover,
.link:active {
  color: black;
}

@media screen and (prefers-reduced-motion: no-preference) {
  .link {
    transition: color 200ms ease-in-out;
  }
}
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Tips: For animations and transitions, I recommend taking a no-motion-first approach. This way, only the users who choose to see them will be able to see them. Also, if the users' browsers don't support the prefers-reduced-motion media query, they will not see any animations and transitions.

Sass-sy Copy Paste

We can create small mixins to help us write repetitive CSS properties.

@mixin center-grid() {
  display: grid;
  place-items: center;
}
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The example of usage.

/* SCSS */
body {
  min-height: 100vh;
  @include center-grid;
}

.card {
  @include center-grid;
}

/* CSS */
body {
  min-height: 100vh;
  display: grid;
  place-items: center;
}

.card {
  display: grid;
  place-items: center;
}
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Conclusion

I hope those things give your Sass more power. Let me know if you have any questions. Also, any feedback is appreciated!

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