CSS is the backbone of styling for modern websites, but as stylesheets grow, managing deeply structured layouts can become difficult. Nested CSS styles offer a solution by keeping related styles together, improving readability, and reducing repetition. In this post, we’ll explore different ways to use nested styles effectively.

1️⃣ Understanding CSS Nesting

CSS nesting allows you to structure styles in a way that mirrors your HTML hierarchy. While vanilla CSS does not support true nesting, preprocessors like SCSS and PostCSS provide built-in nesting capabilities.

Example: Traditional CSS Without Nesting

  
    .navbar {
       background-color: #1e3a8a;
       padding: 10px;
    }

    .navbar ul {
       list-style: none;
       padding: 0;
       margin: 0;
    }

    .navbar ul li {
       display: inline;
       margin-right: 15px;
    }

    .navbar ul li a {
       color: white;
       text-decoration: none;
    }
  

💡 Problem: This results in a long and repetitive structure. Every selector must be explicitly named.

2️⃣ Using Nested CSS with SCSS

SCSS (Sass) allows for true CSS nesting, keeping child elements indented under their parent for better readability.

Example: Nested SCSS

  
    .navbar {
        background-color: #1e3a8a;
        padding: 10px;

        ul {
            list-style: none;
            padding: 0;
            margin: 0;

            li {
                display: inline;
                margin-right: 15px;

                a {
                    color: white;
                    text-decoration: none;
                }
            }
        }
    }

🔥 Why is this better? ✅ Cleaner structure – visually represents HTML hierarchy.
✅ Easier maintenance – updating .navbar styles affects everything inside it.

3️⃣ CSS Nesting with PostCSS

PostCSS now supports native CSS nesting without preprocessors, using the & (ampersand) symbol.

Example: Native CSS Nesting (PostCSS)

  
    .navbar {
        background-color: #1e3a8a;
        padding: 10px;

        & ul {
            list-style: none;
            padding: 0;
            margin: 0;

            & li {
                display: inline;
                margin-right: 15px;

                & a {
                    color: white;
                    text-decoration: none;
                }
            }
        }
    }

💡 Important: Native CSS nesting is still not widely supported in browsers. Use PostCSS with Autoprefixer for compatibility.

4️⃣ Advanced Nesting: Parent Selectors (&)

The & selector in SCSS and PostCSS allows more precise control when nesting.

Example: Hover and Active States

  
    .button {
        background-color: #3b82f6;
        color: white;
        padding: 10px 20px;
        border-radius: 5px;
        text-decoration: none;

        &:hover {
            background-color: #2563eb;
        }

        &:active {
            background-color: #1e3a8a;
        }
    }
  

✅ The & attaches hover/active styles directly to .button, keeping everything grouped logically.

5️⃣ Nesting Pseudo-Elements (::before, ::after)

Nested CSS simplifies styling pseudo-elements.

Example: Adding Icons with ::before

  
    .button {
        background-color: #3b82f6;
        color: white;
        padding: 10px 20px;
        border-radius: 5px;
        text-decoration: none;
        position: relative;

        &::before {
            content: "→";
            position: absolute;
            left: 10px;
            font-size: 16px;
        }
    }
  

✅ This keeps ::before inside .button, making it easy to manage.

6️⃣ Nesting Media Queries

One of the biggest advantages of SCSS nesting is media query nesting.

Example: Responsive Button Styling

  
    .button {
        background-color: #3b82f6;
        padding: 10px 20px;
        border-radius: 5px;

        @media (max-width: 768px) {
            padding: 8px 16px;
        }

        @media (max-width: 480px) {
            padding: 6px 12px;
        }
    }
  

✅ Without nesting, media queries would be scattered across different sections of the stylesheet.

7️⃣ Should You Use Nested CSS?

✅ Use It When:

• You have deep HTML structures (like navbars, cards, or modals).
• Your styles relate closely to their parent elements.
• You want to keep CSS organized and modular.

❌ Avoid It When:

• You have flat structures (excessive nesting adds unnecessary complexity).
• You over-nest (going beyond 3 levels deep is bad practice).

Nested CSS styles offer a powerful way to manage large stylesheets efficiently. Whether using SCSS, PostCSS, or future native CSS nesting, keeping styles organized and readable is the key.

🚀 What’s next?

• Try converting your existing CSS into nested SCSS/PostCSS.
• Experiment with media query nesting for responsive layouts.
• Use & selectors for cleaner pseudo-element styling.

💬 What are your thoughts on nested CSS? Have you used it in a project? Drop a comment below! 👇