How combo classes can ruin your Webflow site and how to avoid it

Key Points from this video:

Misuse of Utility Classes:

• Directly applying utility classes to elements can unintentionally affect multiple elements.
• Leads to a confusing mix of combo classes, making the site hard to manage.

Impact on Maintainability:

• Changing an element's class requires removing and reapplying multiple utility classes.
• Overusing utilities for simple elements defeats the purpose of global reuse.

Development Restrictions:

• Over-reliance on utilities leads to plain, templated sites.
• Utilities cannot solve for every situation, creating unused CSS.
• Solution: Webflow Variables:
• Store values in reusable variables for consistency across custom classes.
• Apply values on specific breakpoints or states without limitations.

Utility Classes Pros:

• Speeds up workflow by quickly applying existing styles.
• Keeps code cleaner and faster-loading by reusing classes.

Best Practice:

• Ensure every element has a custom class.
• Custom classes add no extra code unless styles are applied.

Future-Proofing:

• Custom classes allow for easy, site-wide changes without affecting global styles.
• Simplifies updating elements like headings and containers without disrupting the site.

Efficient Class Management:

• Use custom classes first, then apply utility classes for specific styles.
• Rename classes to change styles site-wide without extra steps.

Practical Tips:

• If renaming classes causes a bug, temporarily change the class name and revert.
• Use custom classes to set a base, then layer utility classes for specific changes.

Conclusion:

Always prioritize custom classes to maintain control, flexibility, and clean code in your Webflow projects, ensuring efficient site management and future-proofing.