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Bulletproof Web Design: Improving flexibility and protecting against worst-case scenarios with XHTML and CSS
Provides information on successfully designing a Web site using XHTML and Cascading Style Sheets.
270 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
About the author
Dan Cederholm
25 books39 followersA designer, author, speaker, husband and father living in Salem, Massachusetts. Dan is the Founder and Principal of SimpleBits, LLC, a tiny web design studio.
A recognized expert in the field of standards-based web design, Dan has worked with YouTube, Microsoft, Google, MTV, ESPN, Electronic Arts, Blogger, Fast Company, Inc. Magazine, and others. With each new project, comes an opportunity to minimize markup and embrace the flexibility of CSS.
Dan is co-founder and designer of Dribbble, a vibrant community for sharing screenshots of your work. Previously, he co-founded and designed Cork’d, the first social network for wine aficionados which was later acquired by Gary Vaynerchuk.
A recognized expert in the field of standards-based web design, Dan has worked with YouTube, Microsoft, Google, MTV, ESPN, Electronic Arts, Blogger, Fast Company, Inc. Magazine, and others. With each new project, comes an opportunity to minimize markup and embrace the flexibility of CSS.
Dan is co-founder and designer of Dribbble, a vibrant community for sharing screenshots of your work. Previously, he co-founded and designed Cork’d, the first social network for wine aficionados which was later acquired by Gary Vaynerchuk.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
February 16, 2008
Awesome book! First web design book I was able to pick up, read and actually take it all in, without needing to read each chapter over and over. Dan Cederholm writes very down to earth and easy to understand.
December 31, 2009
Fantastic book. Dan makes web design an easy fun and colorful experience. Examples, tips and ideas are well presented and easy to follow.
Simply put, this book is a must have.
Simply put, this book is a must have.
January 17, 2025
Bulletproof Web Design" by Dan Cederholm is an eye-opening guide for anyone involved in web design and development. The author brilliantly explains how to create resilient and adaptive websites that maintain their functionality and aesthetics under various conditions. The insights into semantic markup and the separation of content and styling through CSS were particularly valuable. The practical examples provided a clear understanding of solving everyday web development challenges.
Inspired by the book, I realized the importance of partnering with professionals to achieve the best results. For instance, if you want your business to thrive, consider custom web development https://matumba.net/ services. Their agency delivers exceptional web design and development tailored to your goals. By combining technical expertise with advanced SEO strategies, they help maximize your website's potential. Discover how their company can support your success with innovative digital solutions. Start your journey with them today!
Inspired by the book, I realized the importance of partnering with professionals to achieve the best results. For instance, if you want your business to thrive, consider custom web development https://matumba.net/ services. Their agency delivers exceptional web design and development tailored to your goals. By combining technical expertise with advanced SEO strategies, they help maximize your website's potential. Discover how their company can support your success with innovative digital solutions. Start your journey with them today!
August 19, 2019
Had to stop at the 50% mark. Started off really great–fresh writing and original concept. But the halt starts at about the 30% mark and never quite picks up again.
November 29, 2018
the book is very useful and informative!
April 30, 2012
The concepts behind "bulletproof" web design remain relevant, but the specific examples haven't aged well. Using code snippets and screenshots, Cedarholm shows how to replace bloated code with lean, semantic, accessible markup. The goal is bulletproof design: thinking ahead and designing for multiple scenarios, and protecting content. The book covers flexible text, fluid layouts, and making content readable without images or CSS.
Cedarholm's techniques were fine when the book was published in 2006, but some of them are outdated. For example, gradients and graphical rounded corners can now be done with CSS3.
I read this book because I liked the sequel, Handcrafted CSS (my review).
Notes
• For flexible text, set font-size on the element to a keyword like small. Set all other font sizes as percentages relative to the body size.
• Use ems for margins and padding on text elements so they resize proportionately to the text.
Cedarholm's techniques were fine when the book was published in 2006, but some of them are outdated. For example, gradients and graphical rounded corners can now be done with CSS3.
I read this book because I liked the sequel, Handcrafted CSS (my review).
Notes
• For flexible text, set font-size on the element to a keyword like small. Set all other font sizes as percentages relative to the body size.
• Use ems for margins and padding on text elements so they resize proportionately to the text.
December 27, 2011
This was my favorite CSS book back in the day. I learned numerous nifty techniques to create web designs that were hard to break when browser compatibility issues abounded. I am looking for books that are comparable to this one, all updated to the current standards which are quite different from when Bolletproof Web Design was published.
February 10, 2012
This is a well-written, practical book that gives you concrete, hands-on examples for how to write some of the best markup on earth. Highly recommended to any new web designers who are interested in how to better hone their craft.
May 26, 2008
This is book for my inspiration first web design.
Although i'm not yet read at all..
Although i'm not yet read at all..
July 29, 2008
Useful reference, well written.
April 29, 2009
Really excellent book on making both standards compliant design with CSS, but also building in precautions for careless users.
August 14, 2010
Was a great book when it came out, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone today: Too outdated by now.
Read
September 23, 2010Checked out By Jye 05/10/2010
November 11, 2010
Helps you alot to understand how Html works with CSS
May 22, 2011
Must-have for web designers and web developers as well.
September 27, 2011
Very good book. A bit outdated, but still has a lot of useful information and techniques that can be applied today.
October 2, 2011
OK, but seriously out of date: spent a lot of time explaining how to deal with Netscape 4 and IE 5. Also spent more time on the technology, and virtually nothing on actual *design*
December 12, 2011
(X)HTML strutturale e CSS in un approccio pratico ed elegante: dal menu di navigazione al layout della pagina, tecniche intelligenti a prova di Internet Explorer.
December 28, 2012
One of my very first html books. This book helped me code by thinking of flexibility and different scenarios. It was a great starter book.
April 3, 2013
Excellent book for CSS best practice but needs to be updated for html5/CSS3
June 12, 2013
Pretty much turned me into the bright side of CSS programming.
March 26, 2014
A bit outdated and some of it isn't relevant any longer but some good things also.
January 29, 2012
Concise, simple and direct. Also useful for novices and experienced designers as well
October 15, 2015
Good enough, but very outdated.
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May 17, 2018I started this book when the technology it covers was relevant. I never finished it and the technology is now thoroughly outdated.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews





















