SCSS vs Styled Components: Which CSS-in-JS Solution Reigns?

Revolutionizing Frontend Development: SCSS vs. Styled-Components in React Applications

The Rise of Frontend Frameworks

Frontend frameworks like React and Vue have transformed the way we approach web development. By breaking down applications into reusable components, these frameworks have made it easier to separate concerns and develop independent pieces that can be combined into templates, pages, and compositions. However, when it comes to styling, developers are often torn between using SCSS (Sass) and styled-components.

The Great Debate: SCSS vs. Styled-Components

In this article, we’ll explore both options and evaluate their advantages and disadvantages in a React application. To illustrate the differences, we’ll create an author box in React and compare styling it using SCSS vs. styled-components.

Prerequisites

Before we dive in, make sure you have some hands-on experience with JavaScript and CSS. We’ll use React to create components, and you don’t need to be familiar with styled-components or Sass to follow along.

Creating an Author Box with SCSS and Styled-Components

Let’s start by creating a new React application using Vite + React. We’ll set up the necessary packages to make our React app work with styled-components and SCSS.

Building the Markup

Create a new AuthorBox.jsx file and paste the following code:
“`
import React from ‘eact’;
import ‘./style.scss’; // commented for now
import { styled } from ‘tyled-components’; // commented for now

const AuthorBox = () => {
return (

);
};

export default AuthorBox;
“`
Styling with SCSS

Create a new style.scss file and add the following code:
“`
.author-box {
background-color: #f7f7f7;
padding: 20px;
border: 1px solid #ddd;
}

.author-box h3 {
color: #333;
}

.author-box p {
color: #666;
}

.author-box a {
color: #337ab7;
}
“`
Styling with Styled-Components

Create a new styles.js file and paste the following code:
“`
import { styled } from ‘tyled-components’;

const AuthorBox = styled.div
background-color: #f7f7f7;
padding: 20px;
border: 1px solid #ddd;
;

const AuthorName = styled.h3
color: #333;
;

const AuthorBio = styled.p
color: #666;
;

const SocialURL = styled.a
color: #337ab7;
;
“`
Comparing SCSS and Styled-Components

So, which one is better? Let’s evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each library.

Overwriting Styles and Naming Conventions

Styled-components doesn’t come with globally scoped selectors, making it easier to manage styles. SCSS, on the other hand, can lead to overwriting styles, especially in large projects.

Customization and Reuse

Components created with styled-components are easier to reuse and customize than those styled with SCSS.

Performance and Caching

Styled-components render only if the component is on screen, whereas SCSS processes all styles, regardless of whether they’re visible or not. However, styled-components can cause issues with caching between builds or renders.

Debugging

SCSS is easier to debug due to its plain CSS output, whereas styled-components can be harder to debug due to its dynamic class names.

Code Readability

Both libraries have their strengths and weaknesses when it comes to code readability. SCSS’s nested syntax and variable system can help keep code organized, but styled-components’ declarative syntax is easier to understand.

Learning Curve and Legacy Code

The learning curve for styled-components is steeper than that of SCSS, and integrating both libraries into a single application can be confusing.

Conclusion

Switching from SCSS to styled-components in a React project can provide benefits such as improved readability, reduced CSS bloat, and better support for theming and dynamic styles. However, there are also potential challenges and caveats to consider. Ultimately, the choice between SCSS and styled-components depends on your project’s specific needs and goals, as well as your personal preferences and expertise.