What are the differences between LESS and SASS?

LESS and SASS are popular CSS pre-processors that enhance CSS with advanced features like variables, nesting, and mixins.

• LESS: Simpler syntax, JavaScript-based, and integrated into projects quickly.
• SASS: Offers advanced features, is more robust, and supports two syntaxes (SCSS and indented).

LESS Pre-Processor

LESS is a dynamic stylesheet language that extends CSS with features like variables, mixins, and functions, enhancing code maintainability and reusability.

It is JavaScript-based and offers precise error reporting, indicating the exact location of errors.

• Cross-Browser Compatibility: Ensures consistent styling across different browsers.
• Dynamic Features: Supports variables, mixins, and functions for efficient styling.
• Error Reporting: Provides detailed error messages to facilitate debugging.

For Variable:

@selector: box; //using variables

.@{selector} {
  font-weight: semi-bold;
  line-weight: 20px;
}

CSS Output:

.box {
 font-weight: semi-bold;
 line-weight: 20px;
}

For mixins:

.margined
{
    margin - bottom : 1rem;
    margin - top : 2rem;
}
#box h1 {
    font : Roboto, sans - serif;
   .margined;
}
.cont a {
     color:blue;
    .margined;
}

CSS Output:

#box h1 { 
   font: Roboto, sans-serif; 
   margin-bottom: 1rem; 
   margin-top: 2rem; 
} 
.cont a { 
  color: blue; 
  margin-bottom: 1rem; 
  margin-top: 2rem; 
}

SASS Pre-Processor

SASS (Syntactically Awesome Style Sheets) is a CSS pre-processor that enhances CSS with advanced features like variables, nesting, and mixins, promoting code reusability and maintainability.

Implemented using Ruby, SASS actively reports syntax errors, indicating their exact location for efficient debugging.

• Cross-Browser Compatibility: Ensures consistent styling across different browsers.
• Dynamic Features: Supports variables, mixins, and functions for efficient styling.
• Error Reporting: Provides detailed error messages to facilitate debugging.

For Variable:

a {
  color: white;

  // Nesting
  &:hover {
    text-decoration: none;
  }

  :not(&) {
    text-decoration: underline;
  }
}

CSS Output:

a {
  color: white;
}
a:hover {
  text-decoration: none;
}
:not(a) {
  text-decoration: underline;
}

For Mixins:

@mixin margined { 
   margin-bottom: 1rem; 
   margin-top: 2rem; 
} 
#box h1 { 
   @include margined; 
   font: Roboto, sans-serif; 
} 
.cont a { 
   @include margined; 
   color: blue; 
}

CSS Output:

#box h1 { 
   margin-bottom: 1rem; 
   margin-top: 2rem; 
   font: Roboto, sans-serif; 
} 
.cont a { 
   margin-bottom: 1rem; 
   margin-top: 2rem; 
   color: blue; 
}

Similarities

1. They are similar when it comes to syntax.
   • LESS:

      @color: white; /*@color is a LESS variable*/
     #header {
       color: @color;
     }

   • SASS:

      $color: white; /* $color is a SASS variable */
     #header {
       color: $color;
     }

2. We can use properties like mixins and variables in SASS and LESS both.

Differences between SASS & LESS

Best Practices of Using LESS and SASS

• Modularize Your Stylesheets: Divide your styles into smaller, reusable components or partials to enhance maintainability and scalability.
• Utilize Variables and Mixins: Implement variables for consistent values and mixins for reusable code snippets, reducing redundancy and improving code clarity.
• Maintain Consistent Naming Conventions: Adopt a clear and consistent naming convention for variables, mixins, and functions to improve code readability and collaboration.