Why Should You Use SCSS Instead of Styled Components?

After comparing popular solutions such as plain CSS, Emotion, SCSS and Styled Components, I finally selected the last one. Everything seemed to be fine. It has a very popular library nowadays, which means there’s already a big community so if I’d face any problems, I’ll find probably a solution somewhere on Stack Overflow or GitHub. Besides that, Styled Components have some optimization features which means they render only when they’re needed. The project was expected to be built using React and Typescript. This library has great support for both technologies. Sounds awesome, right?

I started coding then. After a month, when the app has grown, the frontend team and me focused on delivering features, we found out that the amazing Styled Components library had its own goal and I’ll tell you why.

First of all, the naming convention. To differentiate Styled Components from React components, I had to use the Styled prefix which decreased code readability. Then (what might be strange), Typescript support. Styled Components, as you might know, are based on the CSS-in-JS approach. This means you can pass any prop to them and change the style of, i.e., the input based on this prop and I personally think this feature is awesome. In Typescript, you should also implement the type of this prop makes it code longer any Styled Component. “But it would take like 5 more seconds so what is your problem” – you might say. You’re right, although when the app scales up fast and the number of components is increasing, these 5 seconds can be easily multiplied by hundreds of times. Another problem is the placement of the Styled Components.

Some JS developers place them in the same file with the component they belong to, and others create separate files for them. Both approaches are good for many reasons. It mostly depends on the complexity of the component. Following one of these techniques can maintain cohesion but merging them gives exactly the opposite. We resigned from the CSS-in-JS approach and migrated to SCSS. It wasn’t easy and quick but with a little help we made it. We started styling html tags in the BEM methodology and, of course, put styles in separate files, one per component. I said that passing JS props to Styled Components is an awesome feature, but in SCSS it’s impossible. I think we also all agree that the syntax React wants to code conditional classes is awful.

Well, there’s one quite interesting solution. If you connect the BEM methodology with the clsx library, you’ll get something like this (big shoutout to my friend Przemek Adamczyk for showing me this library)

Looks much cleaner, don’t you think?

What’s best is that you only have to type the condition variable on the component level and not on the styling level. It really saves time. Unfortunately, such a solution has its cons. SCSS is easy and friendly but be careful when using it with Next.js. This framework doesn’t allow to import style files directly into the component file (only CSS Modules).

If you prefer one file per component, you have to create index.scss containing all your SCSS files and import it into the _app.tsx file. The only problem is that you have to manually import each SCSS file you created. In React, though, this problem doesn’t exist and you can import SCSS files wherever you want. Don’t get me wrong. Styled Components are really good. As I said before, passing JS variables as well as the global theme are amazing features. When you build a big app where optimization is crucial, this library will probably fulfill your needs. In our case though, migration to SCSS hit the jackpot.

Summing Up

In conclusion, while there are valid arguments for both SCSS and Styled Components in web development , the ultimate decision depends on various factors. SCSS offers a more familiar syntax for developers experienced in traditional CSS and provides a seamless integration with existing code bases and component libraries .

On the other hand, Styled Components offer enhanced developer experience with its ability to encapsulate styles within components and simplify the styling process. It also promotes code modularity and reusability, enabling front-end engineers to efficiently manage the components directory and create consistent UI across the web app . Considering the importance of user data security and performance, it is crucial to assess the impact of both approaches on the final bundle size and loading times. Ultimately, the choice between SCSS and Styled Components should be based on the specific needs of the project, the skill set of the development team , and the overall goals of the web application . It's advisable for developers to evaluate all the factors, stay updated through blog posts and industry discussions, and make an informed decision that aligns with their project requirements and enhances the overall front-end development process .