Top Free Tools to Check and Delete Unused CSS Code in Your Website HTML Code

 

For website owners and developers, removing unused CSS code is essential for optimizing website performance and improving user experience. Not only does it reduce the size of CSS files, but it also speeds up page load times and saves mobile users cellular data. However, manually removing unused CSS code can be a time-consuming and daunting task.

Thankfully, there are several free tools available that can help you check and delete unused CSS code in your website HTML code. These tools use advanced algorithms to scan your source code and identify the CSS selectors that are not being used on your website. By removing these selectors, you can significantly reduce the size of your CSS files and improve website performance.

In this article, we will explore some of the top free tools available for checking and deleting unused CSS code in your website HTML code. These tools are easy to use, customizable, and can help you optimize your website for better performance and user experience. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced developer, these tools can help you streamline your development process and improve your website's performance.

Section 1: Understanding Unused CSS Code

In order to understand how to check and delete unused CSS code, it's important to first understand what it is and why it's important to address it. This section will cover the basics of unused CSS code and why it's important to keep your website's code lean and efficient.

Subsection 1: What is Unused CSS Code?

Unused CSS code refers to any CSS code that is included in your website's HTML and CSS files but is not actually being used to style any elements on the page. This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as when a website is redesigned and old CSS code is left in the files, or when a developer forgets to remove CSS code that is no longer needed.

Unused CSS code can add unnecessary weight to your website's files, which can slow down page load times and negatively impact user experience. It can also make it more difficult to maintain and update your website's code, as you'll have to sift through unnecessary code to find what you need.

Subsection 2: Why is it Important to Check and Delete Unused CSS Code?

There are several reasons why it's important to regularly check and delete unused CSS code from your website's files:

• Improved website performance: Removing unused CSS code can help reduce the size of your website's files, which can improve page load times and overall website performance.
• Easier maintenance: Keeping your website's code lean and efficient can make it easier to maintain and update in the future, as you'll have less unnecessary code to sift through.
• Better user experience: Faster page load times and a smoother browsing experience can improve user satisfaction and increase the likelihood of visitors returning to your website.
• Improved SEO: A faster, more efficient website can also improve your website's search engine rankings, as page load times are a factor in search engine algorithms.

Overall, regularly checking and deleting unused CSS code is an important part of keeping your website's code lean and efficient, which can have a positive impact on both user experience and search engine rankings.

Section 2: Top Free Tools for Checking and Deleting Unused CSS Code

Unused CSS code can slow down your website and increase the loading time, which can affect user experience. Fortunately, there are free tools available that can help you identify and delete unused CSS code in your website HTML code. Here are some of the top free tools:

Subsection 1: Tool 1 - UnusedCSS

UnusedCSS is a free online tool that scans your website and identifies the CSS code that is not being used. It also provides you with a report that shows the percentage of unused CSS code in your website. You can then download the optimized CSS file with the unused code removed. UnusedCSS is easy to use and can help you improve the performance of your website.

Subsection 2: Tool 2 - PurifyCSS

PurifyCSS is another free tool that can help you remove unused CSS code from your website. It scans your HTML and JavaScript files and identifies the CSS selectors that are not being used. You can then use the optimized CSS file with the unused code removed. PurifyCSS is easy to use and can help you reduce the size of your CSS file, which can improve the loading time of your website.

Subsection 3: Tool 3 - CSS Usage

CSS Usage is a free Google Chrome extension that can help you identify the CSS selectors that are not being used on your website. It provides you with a report that shows the percentage of unused CSS code in your website. You can then use this information to optimize your CSS file and improve the performance of your website.

Subsection 4: Tool 4 - Dust-Me Selectors

Dust-Me Selectors is a free Firefox extension that can help you identify the unused CSS selectors on your website. It scans your HTML files and identifies the selectors that are not being used. You can then use the optimized CSS file with the unused code removed. Dust-Me Selectors is easy to use and can help you improve the performance of your website.

Subsection 5: Tool 5 - Chrome DevTools

Chrome DevTools is a free tool that comes with Google Chrome. It can help you identify the unused CSS code on your website. You can use the Coverage tool in Chrome DevTools to identify the CSS selectors that are not being used. You can then use this information to optimize your CSS file and improve the performance of your website.

Section 3: How to Use the Top Free Tools

Subsection 1: Step-by-Step Guide to Using UnusedCSS

To use UnusedCSS, you need to visit their website and enter the URL of the website you want to check. UnusedCSS will then scan the website and identify any unused CSS code. Once the scan is complete, you will be presented with a report that shows the unused CSS code. You can then download the report and use it to remove the unused CSS code from your website.

Subsection 2: Step-by-Step Guide to Using PurifyCSS

To use PurifyCSS, you need to install it on your computer using npm. Once installed, you can run it on your website's HTML and CSS files. PurifyCSS will then scan the files and identify any unused CSS code. Once the scan is complete, you can use the report to remove the unused CSS code from your website.

Subsection 3: Step-by-Step Guide to Using CSS Usage

To use CSS Usage, you need to install it as a Chrome extension. Once installed, you can visit your website and click on the CSS Usage icon. CSS Usage will then scan the website and identify any unused CSS code. Once the scan is complete, you can use the report to remove the unused CSS code from your website.

Subsection 4: Step-by-Step Guide to Using Dust-Me Selectors

To use Dust-Me Selectors, you need to install it as a Firefox extension. Once installed, you can visit your website and click on the Dust-Me Selectors icon. Dust-Me Selectors will then scan the website and identify any unused CSS code. Once the scan is complete, you can use the report to remove the unused CSS code from your website.

Subsection 5: Step-by-Step Guide to Using Chrome DevTools

To use Chrome DevTools, you need to open your website in Google Chrome and then open the DevTools panel. Once the panel is open, you can click on the Coverage tab and then click on the "Start Instrumenting Coverage" button. Chrome DevTools will then scan the website and identify any unused CSS code. Once the scan is complete, you can use the report to remove the unused CSS code from your website.

Section 4: Best Practices for Checking and Deleting Unused CSS Code

Subsection 1: Regular Maintenance

Regular maintenance is crucial for keeping your website running smoothly. Checking and deleting unused CSS code should be a part of your website maintenance routine. This will help keep your website load time fast and improve user experience. By regularly checking your website's CSS code, you can identify and remove unused code before it starts to slow down your website.

Subsection 2: Test Before Deployment

Before deploying any changes to your website, it's important to test them thoroughly. This includes checking for any unused CSS code. Testing your website before deployment can help you catch any issues early on, saving you time and effort in the long run. By testing your website, you can ensure that it is running smoothly and that there are no issues with unused CSS code.

Subsection 3: Keep a Backup

When making changes to your website's CSS code, it's important to keep a backup of the original code. This will allow you to revert back to the original code if any issues arise. Keeping a backup can also help you track changes and identify any issues that may arise.

Subsection 4: Document Your Changes

Documenting your changes is important for keeping track of any modifications made to your website's CSS code. This can help you identify any issues that may arise and keep track of any changes made over time. By documenting your changes, you can also ensure that any future modifications to your website's CSS code are made with a clear understanding of the changes that have already been made. Overall, regularly checking and deleting unused CSS code is an important part of maintaining a fast and efficient website. By following these best practices, you can ensure that your website is running smoothly and providing the best possible user experience.

Conclusion

Unused CSS code can slow down your website and harm its performance. Fortunately, there are many free tools available to help you identify and delete unused CSS code from your website's HTML code.

Using a tool like PurgeCSS, you can easily remove unused CSS code from your website's HTML code. It is a powerful tool that allows you to specify which selectors to keep and which to remove. Other tools like Coverage in Chrome Developers and the Coverage tool in Microsoft Edge can help you find unused JavaScript and CSS code.

When it comes to choosing the best tool for your website, it is important to consider your specific needs and goals. Some tools may be better suited for larger websites with more complex code, while others may be more appropriate for smaller websites with simpler code.

Regardless of which tool you choose, regularly checking and deleting unused CSS code is an important step in optimizing your website's performance. By doing so, you can ensure that your website loads quickly and efficiently, providing a better user experience for your visitors.