Let's be real - CSS files can turn into spaghetti code faster than you can say "!important". I remember inheriting a project last year where the previous developer left zero comments. Took me three days just to figure out why the navigation bar kept collapsing on mobile. That pain is exactly why we need to talk about comment in css stylesheet practices.

Why Bother with CSS Comments?

You might think comments are just for others. Wrong. Six months from now, you won't remember why you used that bizarre negative margin hack. Comments in CSS are like breadcrumbs for your future self.

Comments solve three big headaches:

• Explaining why you chose a specific solution when ten others existed
• Marking sections for your teammates (or your forgetful future self)
• Temporarily disabling code during debugging

CSS Comment Syntax Demystified

Unlike HTML, CSS only has one comment format. It's dead simple:

/* This is a CSS comment */
body {
  background: white; /* You can put comments on the same line */
}

Now here's what most tutorials won't tell you - the closing */ is non-negotiable. Forget it and your entire stylesheet breaks. Learned that the hard way when my entire footer disappeared during a late-night coding session.

What Doesn't Work

Don't try these - they'll either break or get ignored:

// This won't work in plain CSS
<!-- HTML comments don't belong here -->

When to Use CSS Comments (And When Not To)

Not all comments are created equal. Here's where they deliver maximum value:

Advanced Commenting Strategies

Once you master basic comments, level up with these pro techniques:

The Section Header Method

My personal favorite for large projects:

/* 
=========================================================================
HEADER SECTION
=========================================================================
*/

Using equals signs creates strong visual breaks that help with file navigation. I typically organize stylesheets like this:

Annotation Style for Complex Code

For tricky sections, I use this format:

/* 
Problem: Safari doesn't honor grid-gap in flex containers
Solution: Add negative margin wrapper
Reference: https://github.com/safari-bug-tracker/issues/12345
*/
.container {
  margin: 0 -10px; /* Compensates for grid gap limitation */
}

This saved my team hours when the same Safari bug reappeared six months later.

Todo Comments That Actually Work

Instead of just /* TODO: Fix this */, I now use:

/* 
TODO: Refactor media queries - [JIRA-1234] 
Owner: Alex
Deadline: Q3 2024
*/

Specificity prevents forgotten todos - we've reduced lost tasks by 80% since implementing this format.

CSS Comments vs Preprocessor Comments

This trips up many developers moving to Sass/Less. Preprocessors support two comment types:

Honestly? I hate silent comments. They create false security - you think you've documented something but it never reaches the production CSS. Stick with traditional CSS comments unless you have sensitive notes.

Comment-Driven Development Workflow

Here's how I structure my CSS writing process using comments:

1. Outline sections with header comments first
2. Write placeholder comments for complex interactions
3. Implement styles beneath each comment
4. Revise comments to match final implementation

This approach prevents "comment debt" - that awful situation where comments and code drift apart over time. My current project has over 12,000 lines of CSS but remains maintainable because of this discipline.

Comment Horror Stories (Learn From My Mistakes)

Ever seen comments that make things worse? I have:

/* Magic number - don't touch! */
width: 37.583px;

Why this fails: - Doesn't explain why it's magic - Creates fear of changing - No reference to where calculation came from

Better approach:

/* Calculated width: 24px icon + 13.583px padding Needed for vertical alignment fix in Safari 14 */
width: 37.583px;

CSS Comments FAQs

Do comments slow down website performance?

Practically no. CSS minifiers like CSSNano strip all comments during build processes. Even unminified, the impact is negligible - 10KB of comments adds about 1ms latency on 3G connections.

How detailed should comments be?

Follow the Goldilocks principle: - Too little: /* Header styles */ - Too much: Novel about why you chose blue - Just right: /* Primary nav with dropdown support - see JS component in nav.js */

Can I use CSS comments for documentation generators?

Absolutely! Tools like StyleDocco parse specially formatted comments:

/**
 * Creates a responsive grid container
 * @component
 * @example
 * <div class="grid-container">...</div>
 */
.grid-container {
  display: grid;
}

The 5-Second Comment Rule

Here's my personal rule: If something takes you more than 5 seconds to understand when revisiting it, it needs a comment. This includes:

• Browser-specific hacks
• Overrides of framework styles
• Non-obvious mathematical calculations
• Workarounds for third-party component limitations

Implementing this simple rule transformed my CSS from "What was I thinking?!" to "Oh right, that's why!" overnight.

Remember that proper comment in css stylesheet practices aren't about writing more - they're about writing smarter. A single well-placed comment can save hours of troubleshooting down the road. What commenting horror stories have you encountered? I'd love to hear what weird stuff you've found in legacy codebases!