
<Image src="html.jpg" alt="White smartphone on two softbound books" />

## HTML Class Naming Conventions with BEM Methodology: Enhancing CSS Naming Conventions

As a web developer, you understand the importance of keeping your codebase clean and maintainable. One of the crucial
aspects of achieving this goal is following HTML class naming conventions.

In this article, we'll delve into the world of HTML class naming conventions, with a specific focus on
the [BEM](https://www.educative.io/answers/what-is-a-css-class-naming-convention) (Block,
Element, Modifier) methodology.
We'll explore how this approach enhances CSS naming conventions, improves code readability, and makes your codebase more
organized.

### Understanding the Importance of HTML Class Naming Conventions

Effective HTML class naming conventions are vital for several reasons:

1. **Readability:** Well-structured class names make your HTML and CSS easier to understand, even for developers who
   didn't write the code.

2. **Maintainability:** Properly named classes simplify the process of making changes or additions to your code,
   reducing the risk of breaking existing styles.

3. **Collaboration:** Naming conventions facilitate collaboration among team members, making it easier to work on the
   same codebase.

4. **Scalability:** Consistent class naming conventions are essential for managing large projects and ensuring they
   remain scalable.

### BEM Methodology: A CSS Class Naming Convention

BEM, which stands for Block, Element, Modifier, is
a [popular CSS class naming convention](https://en.bem.info/methodology/naming-convention/). It provides a structured
and consistent approach to [naming](https://getbem.com/naming/) classes. Let's break down the components of BEM:

#### 1. **Block**

A block is a standalone component that represents a high-level element or a module on a web page. It's usually a
container for one or more elements within it.

```html

<div class="block">
  ...
</div>
```

#### 2. **Element**

An element is a part of a block and is semantically tied to it. It is named using a double underscore (`__`) as a
separator.

```html

<div class="block">
  <div class="block__element">
    ...
  </div>
</div>
```

#### 3. **Modifier**

A modifier is used to change the appearance, behavior, or state of a block or element. It's named using a double
hyphen (`--`) as a separator.

```html

<div class="block">
  <div class="block__element">
    ...
  </div>
</div>

<div class="block block--modifier">
  ...
</div>

<div class="block__element block__element--modifier">
  ...
</div>
```

### Examples of BEM Methodology in Action

Let's see how BEM methodology applies to real-world examples:

#### Navigation Menu

```html

<nav class="navigation">
  <ul class="navigation__list">
    <li class="navigation__item">
      <a class="navigation__link" href="#">Home</a>
    </li>

    <li class="navigation__item navigation__item--active">
      <a class="navigation__link" href="#">About</a>
    </li>
  </ul>
</nav>
```

In this example, the block is the `navigation`, and its elements and modifiers are clearly defined, making it easy
to understand and style.

#### Article Card

```html

<article class="article-card">
  <header class="article-card__header">
    <h2 class="article-card__title">An Exciting Blog Post</h2>
  </header>
  
  <div class="article-card__content">
    <p class="article-card__paragraph">...</p>
  </div>
  
  <footer class="article-card__footer article-card__footer--featured">
    <a class="article-card__link" href="#">Read More</a>
  </footer>
</article>
```

In this example, the `article-card` block contains elements like `header`, `content`, and `footer`. The `footer` block
also has a modifier indicating that it's featured.

### Enhancing HTML Element Selection

By adhering to BEM methodology, you not only improve naming conventions for CSS but also enhance HTML element selection.
This structured approach to naming classes makes it easier to target specific elements when applying styles.

### CSS Properties and Background Colors

CSS properties and background colors become more manageable with BEM. You can quickly identify and update styles for
individual elements, maintaining consistency throughout your web page.

### In Conclusion

Incorporating BEM methodology into your HTML class naming conventions not only enhances CSS naming conventions but also
improves the overall quality of your code. The structured approach ensures that your codebase remains clean, organized,
and easily understandable. By adopting these practices, you can create web pages that are more maintainable,
collaborative, and scalable, promoting a seamless web development experience.

Embrace BEM and watch your HTML and CSS codebase flourish, all while adhering to effective naming conventions for your
HTML elements and CSS selectors.

For further reading on CSS and HTML best practices, consider checking out these additional resources:

- [CSS Naming Conventions on MakeUseOf](https://www.makeuseof.com/css-class-and-id-best-naming-practices/)
- [FreeCodeCamp's CSS Naming Conventions Guide](https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/css-naming-conventions-that-will-save-you-hours-of-debugging-35cea737d849/)
- [Scaler's CSS Class Naming Convention Article](https://www.scaler.com/topics/css-class-naming-convention/)
- [StackOverflow Discussion on CSS Class Naming Conventions](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/7927193/css-class-naming-convention)
- [HackerNoon's Article on CSS Organization and Naming Conventions](https://hackernoon.com/best-practice-in-css-organisation-and-naming-conventions-4d103ujy)
- [CSS Naming Conventions on CSS-Tricks](https://css-tricks.com/bem-101/)
- [LinkedIn Discussion on HTML Class and ID Naming](https://www.linkedin.com/advice/1/how-do-you-name-html-classes-ids-skills-html)

These references will provide you with comprehensive insights into web development best practices, ensuring you're
equipped with the knowledge to create outstanding web pages.

If you're looking for more examples and guidelines for BEM class name you can find it on my snippet page
about [Common CSS Class Names](/snippets/common-css-classes).

For JavaScript variable and function naming, check out my [JavaScript Naming Conventions](/blog/javascript-naming-conventions) guide.


Discover the art of crafting clean HTML class names with BEM methodology. Learn to create maintainable, scalable, and SEO-friendly CSS code.

Advanced HTML Class Naming Strategies for CSS Efficiency


I am a Frontend mentor in a [MacPaw internship](https://macpaw.com/bootcamp) and sometimes my interns get confused 🫠
about how links work in HTML.

So I decided to write a small article about this topic.

## Anatomy of a URL

<abbr title="Uniform Resource Locator">URL</abbr> - is a string that indicates the address of a document or file on the
Internet.

<Image src="anatomy.png" alt="Anatomy of URL" inverted />

### Scheme

The first part of the URL is the scheme, which indicates the protocol that the browser must use to request the resource.
The protocol is usually HTTPS or HTTP, but can also be:

- ftp
- gopher
- file
- mailto
- and others

### Authority

Authority is the domain and optional port like `:80`.

Now you are in `shramko.dev` domain.

### Path to resource or file

```text
/blog/difference-between-absolute-and-relative-url
```

This is the path to the HTML file of this article. You can check it in the console if you write:

```javascript
window.location.pathname
```

## Relative links

These links will always be anchored to the place where they are located.
The browser will use the same protocol and the same domain.

### Relative to the root of the site

An important point, we add `/` to the address at the beginning.

```html
<a href="/about">About page</a>
```

<Image src="root-example.png" alt="Relative to the root of the site example" inverted />

### Relative path from the current document

Similar to the previous example, but
the [path to the file](#path-to-resource-or-file) is saved.

An important point, we do not add `/` to the address at the beginning.

```html
<a href="category/js">JS category of Blog</a>
```

<Image src="location.png" alt="Relative path from the current document example" inverted />

## Absolute links

An absolute link is an address to a file or page as a whole, with all the above-described parts of
the <abbr title="Uniform Resource Locator">URL</abbr>. With such a link, regardless of where this link is located, you
will be able to get to the right resource.

You will be taken to any page or site exactly as indicated by a link of this type:

```html
<a href="https://shramko.dev/dashboard">My Dashboard</a>
```

You can not specify the protocol `http/https`, then the browser will automatically use the protocol on which the site
was loaded.

```html
<a href="//shramko.dev/dashboard">My Dashboard</a>
```

## Anchors (links by #id)

Anchor links are usually used to navigate the current page. For example, a link to a paragraph or heading.

The link below moves you to the section about [Anatomy of URL on this page](#anatomy-of-a-url).

Add `#anatomy-of-a-url` to the current URL in your browser.

## Cheat Sheet

Examples that we discussed today.

<Image src="cheat-sheet.png" alt="Relative and Absolute paths Cheat Sheet" inverted />

## Useful links

- [Article about how my site works under the hood](https://shramko.dev/blog/introducing-the-new-shramko.dev)
- [Site where I drew pictures](https://okso.app/)
- [Nice tutorial about how DNS works](https://howdns.works/)
- [What is a URL](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Learn_web_development/Howto/Web_mechanics/What_is_a_URL)
- [Check if URL is Absolute](/snippets/is-absolute-url) - utility function to validate absolute URLs


Understand when to use absolute vs relative URLs in HTML. Clear examples showing how each type works, their pros and cons, and best practices for web links.

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