Building for Accessibility First

Utility classes vs scoped CSS: a practical comparison for real projects.

Modern web development demands both performance and maintainability. The patterns we choose today define the constraints we live with tomorrow.

CSS custom properties, also known as CSS variables, give us a powerful way to create themeable, maintainable stylesheets. When combined with a semantic token system, they become the foundation of a scalable design system.

The key insight is that components should never reference raw values — they should always reference semantic tokens. Instead of `color: #3b82f6`, use `color: var(--primary)`. This single convention enables runtime theming, dark mode, and design token swaps without touching component code.

Performance is not just about speed — it's about consistency. A skeleton loader shown at exactly the right moment creates the perception of responsiveness even when the server is processing for 800ms. This is the promise of progressive loading patterns.

Accessibility is not an afterthought. Focus management, keyboard navigation, ARIA roles, and sufficient color contrast are not extras — they are table stakes for any production interface.

The best interfaces are invisible. They get out of the way and let users accomplish their goals. Every design decision should serve that principle.