Bootstrap is a free open-source web design framework created by Twitter. It provides a default CSS layout template for building responsive websites or web apps.
It is a front-end framework that helps developers create faster and better looking websites. The framework has a collection of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript components that can be easily customized.
How Does Bootstrap Work?
The code behind Bootstrap is available under an MIT license, meaning it is a free and open source. The documentation is very clear and concise.
Even if you’ve never worked with Sass before, you can still figure out how everything works within Bootstrap which is why it is so popular. Bootstrap is made up of four parts:
These are the reusable blocks of content that you can use anywhere on your page. They include buttons, forms, navigation menus, and much more.
Modules
These are the customizable sections of the theme. You can modify their appearance, colors, and other aspects.
Plugins
These are small pieces of code that extend the functionality of Bootstrap. For example, you could use a plugin to display a countdown timer on your website.
The main features of the framework that help to make it such a responsive and reliable framework are:
Responsive Design
A website designed with this framework will automatically adjust its layout based on the size of the screen being used. This means you don’t have to change anything when your site goes from desktop to mobile device.
Using the Sass variables, you can customize almost every aspect of the theme. There are many ways to customize the framework. You can override existing styles, create new ones, or even completely remove some parts.
Grid Layout
The grid system allows you to place elements in rows and columns. You can also add custom classes to any element to make them look different.
Modular Style
The framework uses a modular style. Each module contains only the necessary files to render the component. When you need to update the component, you just have to update the module instead of having to search through thousands of lines of code
Mobile First
The framework was built to provide a great experience across all devices.
Easy to Use – The documentation is well-organized and easy to follow.
Extensible
The framework comes with over 20 prebuilt themes. If you want more functionality, there are hundreds of extensions available online. Some of these extensions are free while others require payment.
How To Use Bootstrap – A Step-By-Step Guide
Below is a step-by-step guide that will enable you to master Bootstrap very quickly. Follow the steps below to have your website up and running in no time.
Download the zip file containing the latest release of Bootstrap (v4.0).
Unzip the downloaded archive into your computer.
Open the folder where you unzipped the archive.
Copy the contents of this folder to your server or local machine.
Replace “yourwebsite.com” with your own domain name.
Go back to your FTP client and change the directory listing so that it shows the new location of the Bootstrap files.
Upload the files to your hosting account.
Log in to cPanel and go to File Manager.
Select the “FileZilla” icon and click on the “Connect To Server” button.
Navigate to the directory where you placed the Bootstrap files. Make sure they are listed under the “Bootstrap” folder.
Click on the “Browse…” button.
Find the.css and.js files and select them. Then click on the “Open” button.
Once the upload process completes, you should see a message saying “Successfully uploaded ‘bootstrap.css’ and ‘bootstrap.min.css’.”
Now log back into your FTP client and navigate to the root of your website. You should see two folders called “styles” and “scripts.” These are the locations where you can place your custom CSS stylesheets and JavaScript files.
Create a new folder inside the “styles” folder called “bootstrap.”
Place the.css and.js files inside the newly created “bootstrap” folder.
Click on the “Save Changes” button.
Refresh your browser.
You should be able to see the changes you made to your website’s code.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for an easy-to-use, powerful, and flexible front-end framework, then Bootstrap is worth checking out! Bootstrap continues to grow in popularity thanks to its reliable support team and the fact they are constantly making it better and releasing updated and better versions.
Check out our frequently asked questions section below for even more information about Bootstrap.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Do I Get When I Purchase Bootstrap?
When you purchase Bootstrap, you get access to the entire library of components as well as all updates released since version 3.3.7.
You also receive unlimited email support. The Bootstrap Customer Service team answers any questions you may have about the framework and help you set up your site quickly and easily.
What’s New In Bootstrap Version 5.0?
Version 5.0 brings a lot of changes and improvements. Here are some of the most important features:
New Grid System: The grid system has been completely redesigned. It now provides better support for responsive design.
New Components: The list of included components has been updated to reflect the latest trends in web development.
Improved Documentation: The documentation has been improved and reorganized.
Improved Responsiveness: The framework is now fully responsive. This means it will look good no matter which device you’re viewing it from.
Better Performance: The whole framework has been optimized for performance. This includes faster loading times and fewer HTTP requests.
How Can I Install Bootstrap?
Installing Bootstrap is very simple. Just follow these steps:
Download the ZIP file containing the latest release.
Extract the.zip file.
Open up the extracted folder.
Move the Bootstrap files to your webroot directory.
Rename the Bootstrap folder to “.htaccess”
If you want to add additional themes or plugins, copy the theme or plugin files to the same folder as your Bootstrap files.
Open up the .htaccess file located at the top level of your Bootstrap folder.
Add the following line of code to the .htaccess file:
AddType application/x-https-php.html.htm.shtml.txt. This will allow PHP scripts to run from within HTML pages.
Save the .htaccess file.
In your FTP client, create a new folder called “themes.”
Put all of your Bootstrap files inside the “themes” folder.
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