2025 is pushing CSS even further, giving web developers and designers powerful new tools to build more dynamic, responsive, and visually striking websites. Last year, we covered 7 game-changing CSS features in 2024, including container queries, native CSS nesting, the :has() pseudo-class, and scroll-driven animations. Those features are still making waves, but 2025 brings a fresh batch of CSS advancements that promise to redefine how we approach web design and development.
CSS is evolving fast, and 2025 brings some of the most powerful updates yet. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just keeping up with the latest trends, mastering these new CSS features will help you stay ahead of the curve. Let’s break down what’s new, why it matters, and how you can start using these advancements today.
1. CSS Functions and Mixins: Bringing Logic to Stylesheets
One of the most exciting developments among the new CSS features is the introduction of CSS Functions and Mixins, a feature that’s been in the works through the CSS Values and Units Level 5 Module (first draft published in September 2024). This is a game-changer for reusable and dynamic styling, addressing a long-standing need for more programmatic logic in CSS.
What Are CSS Functions and Mixins?
CSS Functions allow you to define custom functions that accept arguments, perform logic, and return a value. Think of them as lightweight, native CSS methods – no JavaScript required. Mixins, on the other hand, let you bundle a set of styles into a reusable block that can be applied with arguments, much like a function in programming.
Here’s a basic example of what a CSS function might look like (based on proposed syntax):
@function adjust-opacity($color, $opacity: 0.5) { return rgba($color, $opacity); } .element { background: adjust-opacity(#ff0000, 0.8); }In this example, adjust-opacity is a custom function that takes a color and an opacity value, returning an rgba() result. The $opacity argument has a default value of 0.5, making it optional.
Why It’s a Big Deal
- Reusability: Functions and mixins reduce repetition, letting you define logic once and reuse it across your stylesheet.
- Maintainability: Centralizing style logic makes it easier to update values site-wide.
- Dynamic Styling: You can pass arguments to adjust styles dynamically, bringing CSS closer to the flexibility of preprocessors like SASS—but natively.
Browser Support and Usage
As of March 2025, CSS Functions and Mixins are still experimental, with partial support in Chromium-based browsers (e.g., Chrome and Edge) behind flags. However, you can start experimenting with them in development environments and use polyfills or fallbacks for production. Keep an eye on the CSS Working Group’s updates for broader adoption later this year.
2. Anchor Positioning: Precision Element Placement
Anchor Positioning is one of the most practical new CSS features arriving in 2025. While it started gaining traction in 2024, its implementation and browser support have solidified this year, making it a must-know for developers looking for new CSS features.
What Is Anchor Positioning?
Anchor Positioning allows you to position an element relative to another “anchor” element on the page. This is perfect for scenarios like tooltips, popovers, or dropdowns, where you want an element to align dynamically with another without relying on JavaScript.
Here’s a simple example:
.tooltip { position: absolute; anchor-name: --tooltip; } .button { position: relative; anchor-default: --tooltip; top: anchor(bottom, 10px); left: anchor(right, -5px); }In this case, the .tooltip is anchored to the .button. The top and left properties use the anchor() function to position the tooltip 10px below the button’s bottom edge and 5px to the left of its right edge.
Why It’s a Big Deal
- Simplified Layouts: No more JavaScript for dynamic positioning – CSS handles it natively.
- Responsive Design: Anchor Positioning works seamlessly with responsive layouts, adjusting as anchor elements move.
- Accessibility: It pairs well with the Popover API, ensuring accessible UI components like tooltips.
Browser Support and Usage
By March 2025, Anchor Positioning is supported in Chrome, Edge, and Safari (version 18+), with Firefox trailing but expected to catch up by mid-2025. For unsupported browsers, you can use JavaScript fallbacks or static positioning as a graceful degradation.
3. Text-Box Control: Fine-Tuning Typography
Typography lovers, take note: Text-Box Control is another hidden gem among 2025’s new CSS features. These updates, seen in early 2025 Chrome updates, give designers more precision over how text renders within its container.
What Is Text-Box Control?
Text-Box Control includes properties like text-box-trim and text-box-align, which allow you to manage the spacing around text, especially for inline elements. For example, you can trim unwanted space above or below a line of text, ensuring pixel-perfect alignment.
Here’s an example:
h1 { text-box-trim: both; text-box-align: center; }This code trims the extra space above and below the h1 text (e.g., the ascent and descent of the font) and centers the text box vertically within its line height.
Why It’s a Big Deal
- Precision Typography: Perfect for aligning text with icons or other inline elements.
- Consistency: Ensures consistent spacing across different fonts and browsers.
- Design Flexibility: Gives designers more control over micro-adjustments without hacks.
Browser Support and Usage
As of March 2025, text-box-trim is supported in Chrome and Edge, with Safari experimenting in its Technology Preview. For unsupported browsers, you can use line-height adjustments as a fallback, though it’s less precise.
4. Conditional Logic with if(): Smarter Stylesheets
The CSS if() function is a proposed feature in the CSS Values Module Level 5 that’s generating buzz in 2025. While still experimental, it’s poised to be one of the CSS latest features to watch.
What Is the if() Function?
The if() function lets you apply styles conditionally within a single line of CSS. It follows the syntax if(condition, value1, value2), where value1 is used if the condition is true, and value2 if false.
Here’s a hypothetical example:
.element { background: if(prefers-color-scheme(dark), #333, #fff); }In this example, the background color switches based on the user’s color scheme preference—no media query required.
Why It’s a Big Deal
- Simplified Logic: Reduces the need for complex media queries or nested selectors.
- Dynamic Styling: Makes stylesheets more adaptive to user preferences or contexts.
- Cleaner Code: Keeps conditional logic inline, improving readability.
Browser Support and Usage
As of March 2025, the if() function is still in the proposal stage, with no native browser support yet. However, you can simulate similar behavior using custom properties and media queries as a fallback:
:root { --bg-color: #fff; } @media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) { :root { --bg-color: #333; } } .element { background: var(--bg-color); }Keep an eye on browser updates—this feature could land later in 2025.
5. Masonry Layouts: Pinterest-Style Grids Made Easy
Masonry Layouts have been a long-requested feature, and 2025 brings us closer to native support. Building on CSS Grid, masonry layouts allow you to create staggered, Pinterest-like grids without JavaScript.
What Are Masonry Layouts?
Masonry layouts arrange items in a grid where each item can span multiple rows or columns, filling gaps automatically. The proposed masonry value for display makes this possible.
Here’s an example:
.grid { display: masonry; masonry-direction: column; gap: 1rem; } .grid-item { width: 100%; }In this setup, .grid-item elements stack vertically, filling gaps as they fit, creating a natural masonry effect.
Why It’s a Big Deal
- No JavaScript Needed: Native support eliminates the need for libraries like Masonry.js.
- Flexible Design: Perfect for portfolios, galleries, or blogs with varied content heights.
- Performance: Native CSS is faster than JavaScript-based solutions.
Browser Support and Usage
As of March 2025, masonry layouts are supported in Firefox (behind a flag) and are being experimented with in Chrome’s Canary builds. For now, you can use JavaScript libraries or CSS Grid with grid-template-rows: masonry as a polyfill in supported browsers.
6. Custom Properties Enhancements with @property
Custom properties level up with @property, an underappreciated star among 2025’s new CSS features.
What Is @property?
The @property rule lets you define custom properties with specific constraints, making them more robust for complex use cases like animations.
Here’s an example:
@property --gradient-angle { syntax: "<angle>"; inherits: false; initial-value: 0deg; } .element { --gradient-angle: 45deg; background: linear-gradient(var(--gradient-angle), #ff0000, #0000ff); }In this example, –gradient-angle is defined as an angle, ensuring it only accepts valid angle values like deg or rad.
Why It’s a Big Deal
- Type Safety: Prevents invalid values, reducing bugs.
- Better Animations: Makes custom properties animatable by defining their type.
- Theming Power: Simplifies complex theming systems with controlled variables.
Browser Support and Usage
As of March 2025, @property is supported in Chrome, Edge, and Safari, with Firefox support expected soon. For unsupported browsers, you can use standard custom properties without type-checking as a fallback.
7. Scroll-Linked Animations: Next-Level Interactivity
Building on 2024’s scroll-driven animations, Scroll-Linked Animations take interactivity to the next level in 2025. These animations respond directly to the scroll position, creating immersive effects.a
What Are Scroll-Linked Animations?
Scroll-Linked Animations use the animation-timeline property with a scroll() value to tie animations to the scroll position of an element or the viewport.
Here’s an example:
.element { animation: fade 1s linear; animation-timeline: scroll(); } @keyframes fade { from { opacity: 0; } to { opacity: 1; } }In this example, the .element fades in as the user scrolls, with the animation progress tied to the scroll position.
Why It’s a Big Deal
- Engaging UX: Creates seamless, interactive storytelling experiences.
- Performance: Native CSS animations are more efficient than JavaScript.
- Creative Freedom: Opens up new possibilities for parallax effects, progress bars, and more.
Browser Support and Usage
Scroll-Linked Animations are supported in Chrome and Edge as of March 2025, with Safari experimenting in its Technology Preview. For unsupported browsers, you can use JavaScript libraries like ScrollMagic as a fallback.
Conclusion: Stay Ahead with CSS in 2025
The new CSS features of 2025—ranging from CSS Functions and Mixins to Anchor Positioning, Text-Box Control, and Scroll-Linked Animations—offer developers unprecedented control and creativity. These CSS latest features build on the foundation laid by 2024’s advancements, which we explored in our previous post, 7 Game-Changing New CSS Features in 2024. Together, they empower you to create more dynamic, responsive, and visually appealing web experiences.
While some features like if() and masonry layouts are still experimental, others like Anchor Positioning and @property are ready for production with solid browser support. Start experimenting with these new CSS features today, and keep an eye on browser updates for broader adoption throughout 2025. Which feature are you most excited to try? Let us know in the comments!
