Matthias Zöchling
@cssence.com
#CSS enthusiast & #A11Y advocate. Makes websites and design systems. Works for https://george-labs.com in Vienna, Austria.
Pinned
Matthias Zöchling
@cssence.com
· Nov 6
CSSence.com «The Essence of CSS»
Weblog and #IndieWeb Hub of Matthias Zöchling (@CSSence).
cssence.com
#introduction 👋
My name is Matthias, but online you are more likely to know me as @CSSence. I’m a web developer from Austria with focus on semantic #HTML and #A11Y. I’m into #CSS since its early days. You’ll find me blogging about web development stuff over at cssence.com.
My name is Matthias, but online you are more likely to know me as @CSSence. I’m a web developer from Austria with focus on semantic #HTML and #A11Y. I’m into #CSS since its early days. You’ll find me blogging about web development stuff over at cssence.com.
If you don’t care about text-based web browsers (I can’t blame you), this article doubles as a list of all the cool stuff that got added to HTML.
It’s 2026 and text-based web browsers still do not know how to handle (not so) recent additions to HTML.
cssence.com/2026/text-ba...
#HTML #WebDev
cssence.com/2026/text-ba...
#HTML #WebDev
Text-based web browsers
How do they fare with (not so) recent additions to HTML?
cssence.com
January 9, 2026 at 6:28 AM
If you don’t care about text-based web browsers (I can’t blame you), this article doubles as a list of all the cool stuff that got added to HTML.
Oof! That rabbit hole wasn’t even on my radar.
January 8, 2026 at 10:11 PM
Oof! That rabbit hole wasn’t even on my radar.
It’s 2026 and text-based web browsers still do not know how to handle (not so) recent additions to HTML.
cssence.com/2026/text-ba...
#HTML #WebDev
cssence.com/2026/text-ba...
#HTML #WebDev
Text-based web browsers
How do they fare with (not so) recent additions to HTML?
cssence.com
January 8, 2026 at 8:38 PM
It’s 2026 and text-based web browsers still do not know how to handle (not so) recent additions to HTML.
cssence.com/2026/text-ba...
#HTML #WebDev
cssence.com/2026/text-ba...
#HTML #WebDev
Fully agree.
> Nevertheless, CSS is awesome.
—https://cssence.com/2024/hyphenation/
> Nevertheless, CSS is awesome.
—https://cssence.com/2024/hyphenation/
Hyphenation
Consistent browser behavior, but still hard to grasp.
cssence.com
January 2, 2026 at 4:26 PM
Fully agree.
> Nevertheless, CSS is awesome.
—https://cssence.com/2024/hyphenation/
> Nevertheless, CSS is awesome.
—https://cssence.com/2024/hyphenation/
Agreed.
I just looked at caniuse, this is sadly still `display: float` territory.
cssence.com/2023/drop-ca...
I just looked at caniuse, this is sadly still `display: float` territory.
cssence.com/2023/drop-ca...
Drop caps with initial-letter
Do we still need floats to create a large first letter in a paragraph in 2023?
cssence.com
January 2, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Agreed.
I just looked at caniuse, this is sadly still `display: float` territory.
cssence.com/2023/drop-ca...
I just looked at caniuse, this is sadly still `display: float` territory.
cssence.com/2023/drop-ca...
Having read cloudfour.com/thinks/justi... by @tylersticka.com et al., I learned about `hyphenate-limit-chars`, and in a nanosecond it jumped to the top of my list of #CSS properties that I’d like to see full support across browsers.
(Sure, it can be progressively enhanced, but still.)
(Sure, it can be progressively enhanced, but still.)
Justified Text: Better Than Expected?
Do new CSS properties make justified text with automatic hyphenation more viable?
cloudfour.com
January 2, 2026 at 12:25 PM
Having read cloudfour.com/thinks/justi... by @tylersticka.com et al., I learned about `hyphenate-limit-chars`, and in a nanosecond it jumped to the top of my list of #CSS properties that I’d like to see full support across browsers.
(Sure, it can be progressively enhanced, but still.)
(Sure, it can be progressively enhanced, but still.)
CSS Container Style Queries | Can I use... Support tables for HTML5, CSS3, etc
caniuse.com
January 1, 2026 at 10:28 AM
I needed to get this off my chest.
Are you doing web accessiblity work too? Can you relate? Did you blog about something similar? Let me know.
#WevDevelopment #A11Y
Are you doing web accessiblity work too? Can you relate? Did you blog about something similar? Let me know.
#WevDevelopment #A11Y
For my last blog post of 2025, let me end the year with something personal.
cssence.com/2025/accessi...
#WebDev #A11Y
cssence.com/2025/accessi...
#WebDev #A11Y
Accessibility is personal
Is A11Y work rewarding? Demanding? Exhausting? All of the above?
cssence.com
December 22, 2025 at 7:48 AM
I needed to get this off my chest.
Are you doing web accessiblity work too? Can you relate? Did you blog about something similar? Let me know.
#WevDevelopment #A11Y
Are you doing web accessiblity work too? Can you relate? Did you blog about something similar? Let me know.
#WevDevelopment #A11Y
A great read indeed. I didn’t know that MathML results in so many DOM nodes, nor that browser support has caught up.
December 21, 2025 at 10:11 AM
A great read indeed. I didn’t know that MathML results in so many DOM nodes, nor that browser support has caught up.
But that’s not all: The author @manuelsanchezdev.com has an #A11Y themed calendar on his own site.
www.manuelsanchezdev.com/advent-2025
In other words, he now has an additional follower. 😉
www.manuelsanchezdev.com/advent-2025
In other words, he now has an additional follower. 😉
Manuel Sánchez
I'm a passionate developer, entrepreneur, and general technology enthusiast settled in Hamburg. My goal is to help others develop their ideas in the most modern, performantic and web accessible way.
www.manuelsanchezdev.com
December 21, 2025 at 8:35 AM
But that’s not all: The author @manuelsanchezdev.com has an #A11Y themed calendar on his own site.
www.manuelsanchezdev.com/advent-2025
In other words, he now has an additional follower. 😉
www.manuelsanchezdev.com/advent-2025
In other words, he now has an additional follower. 😉
The HTMHell Advent Calendar never disappoints, but this year contained an article that came out of left field, given that I’ve never used MathML so far.
htmhell.dev/adventcalend...
htmhell.dev/adventcalend...
A11y Considerations in Math on the Web - HTMHell
A collection of bad practices in HTML, copied from real websites.
htmhell.dev
December 21, 2025 at 8:32 AM
The HTMHell Advent Calendar never disappoints, but this year contained an article that came out of left field, given that I’ve never used MathML so far.
htmhell.dev/adventcalend...
htmhell.dev/adventcalend...
Reposted by Matthias Zöchling
Interactive demo explaining the how behind the #SVG #matrix #filter used to extract individual RGB channels as alpha masks from an input.
You can play with it on @codepen.io: codepen.io/thebabydino/...
You can play with it on @codepen.io: codepen.io/thebabydino/...
feColorMatrix: alpha masks from individual channels
Interactive demo to illustrate using RGB channels as alpha masks. --- Adaptive layout depending on viewport width, aspect-ratio and on how much space...
codepen.io
December 20, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Interactive demo explaining the how behind the #SVG #matrix #filter used to extract individual RGB channels as alpha masks from an input.
You can play with it on @codepen.io: codepen.io/thebabydino/...
You can play with it on @codepen.io: codepen.io/thebabydino/...
Reposted by Matthias Zöchling
For my last blog post of 2025, let me end the year with something personal.
cssence.com/2025/accessi...
#WebDev #A11Y
cssence.com/2025/accessi...
#WebDev #A11Y
Accessibility is personal
Is A11Y work rewarding? Demanding? Exhausting? All of the above?
cssence.com
December 19, 2025 at 8:49 PM
For my last blog post of 2025, let me end the year with something personal.
cssence.com/2025/accessi...
#WebDev #A11Y
cssence.com/2025/accessi...
#WebDev #A11Y
For my last blog post of 2025, let me end the year with something personal.
cssence.com/2025/accessi...
#WebDev #A11Y
cssence.com/2025/accessi...
#WebDev #A11Y
Accessibility is personal
Is A11Y work rewarding? Demanding? Exhausting? All of the above?
cssence.com
December 19, 2025 at 8:49 PM
For my last blog post of 2025, let me end the year with something personal.
cssence.com/2025/accessi...
#WebDev #A11Y
cssence.com/2025/accessi...
#WebDev #A11Y
Reposted by Matthias Zöchling
Delighted to contribute to the HTMLHell advent calendar. I explained how screen readers don’t always announce what’s visually on screen - through the medium of burritos:
www.htmhell.dev/adventcalend...
Thanks to experts @matuzo.at and @hidde.blog for making sure the burrito was structurally sound.
www.htmhell.dev/adventcalend...
Thanks to experts @matuzo.at and @hidde.blog for making sure the burrito was structurally sound.
Don't leave the screen reader hungry - HTMHell
A collection of bad practices in HTML, copied from real websites.
www.htmhell.dev
December 18, 2025 at 4:24 AM
Delighted to contribute to the HTMLHell advent calendar. I explained how screen readers don’t always announce what’s visually on screen - through the medium of burritos:
www.htmhell.dev/adventcalend...
Thanks to experts @matuzo.at and @hidde.blog for making sure the burrito was structurally sound.
www.htmhell.dev/adventcalend...
Thanks to experts @matuzo.at and @hidde.blog for making sure the burrito was structurally sound.
Reposted by Matthias Zöchling
CSS text-decoration-inset landed in Firefox 146! Here's how it works:
December 11, 2025 at 5:11 PM
CSS text-decoration-inset landed in Firefox 146! Here's how it works:
Reposted by Matthias Zöchling
Made a site comparing the sizes of living things :)
The great Julius Csotonyi spent 5 months painting over 60 illustrations for the site, no ai used
> neal.fun/size-of-life/
The great Julius Csotonyi spent 5 months painting over 60 illustrations for the site, no ai used
> neal.fun/size-of-life/
December 10, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Made a site comparing the sizes of living things :)
The great Julius Csotonyi spent 5 months painting over 60 illustrations for the site, no ai used
> neal.fun/size-of-life/
The great Julius Csotonyi spent 5 months painting over 60 illustrations for the site, no ai used
> neal.fun/size-of-life/
Reposted by Matthias Zöchling
💡 CSS Tip!
How many selectors do you know for the HTML element? Only two, right? There are more!
It's time to discover the hidden selectors of the HTML element.
css-tip.com/root-selecto...
Are they useful? Probably not, but it's a fun exploration of CSS selectors. Did I miss a cool selector?
How many selectors do you know for the HTML element? Only two, right? There are more!
It's time to discover the hidden selectors of the HTML element.
css-tip.com/root-selecto...
Are they useful? Probably not, but it's a fun exploration of CSS selectors. Did I miss a cool selector?
December 4, 2025 at 11:02 AM
💡 CSS Tip!
How many selectors do you know for the HTML element? Only two, right? There are more!
It's time to discover the hidden selectors of the HTML element.
css-tip.com/root-selecto...
Are they useful? Probably not, but it's a fun exploration of CSS selectors. Did I miss a cool selector?
How many selectors do you know for the HTML element? Only two, right? There are more!
It's time to discover the hidden selectors of the HTML element.
css-tip.com/root-selecto...
Are they useful? Probably not, but it's a fun exploration of CSS selectors. Did I miss a cool selector?
I have a list of favorite websites that I revisit when I need inspiration, but these are the three I keep circling back to the most:
- @ethanmarcotte.com for design & layout
- @piccalil.li for rhythm & typography
- @adactio.com for “View source"
What are yours?
#WebDesign
- @ethanmarcotte.com for design & layout
- @piccalil.li for rhythm & typography
- @adactio.com for “View source"
What are yours?
#WebDesign
December 4, 2025 at 8:57 AM
I have a list of favorite websites that I revisit when I need inspiration, but these are the three I keep circling back to the most:
- @ethanmarcotte.com for design & layout
- @piccalil.li for rhythm & typography
- @adactio.com for “View source"
What are yours?
#WebDesign
- @ethanmarcotte.com for design & layout
- @piccalil.li for rhythm & typography
- @adactio.com for “View source"
What are yours?
#WebDesign
#CSS quick tip: You can conditionally load a stylesheet based on feature detection.
cssence.com/2025/import-...
cssence.com/2025/import-...
@import ⚭ @supports
How to load a stylesheet conditionally based on feature detection.
cssence.com
December 3, 2025 at 2:56 PM
#CSS quick tip: You can conditionally load a stylesheet based on feature detection.
cssence.com/2025/import-...
cssence.com/2025/import-...
“Baseline widely available” is a good thing to look out for when it comes to CSS features, but given that my blog’s core audience uses the latest browsers, I just went all in and made my new design the default.
cssence.com/2025/without...
#blog #weblog #redesign
cssence.com/2025/without...
#blog #weblog #redesign
Redesigning in the open - Without further notice
The quiet way: How to not (or how not to) announce a redesign.
cssence.com
December 2, 2025 at 3:26 PM
“Baseline widely available” is a good thing to look out for when it comes to CSS features, but given that my blog’s core audience uses the latest browsers, I just went all in and made my new design the default.
cssence.com/2025/without...
#blog #weblog #redesign
cssence.com/2025/without...
#blog #weblog #redesign
Reposted by Matthias Zöchling
On day 1 of the #HTMHellAdventCalendar @5t3ph.bsky.social describes an accessibility issue that can arise when you use popovers and dialogs together.
htmhell.dev/adventcalend...
htmhell.dev/adventcalend...
Top layer troubles: popover vs. dialog - HTMHell
A collection of bad practices in HTML, copied from real websites.
htmhell.dev
December 1, 2025 at 8:54 PM
On day 1 of the #HTMHellAdventCalendar @5t3ph.bsky.social describes an accessibility issue that can arise when you use popovers and dialogs together.
htmhell.dev/adventcalend...
htmhell.dev/adventcalend...
Sure, I enjoy reading about anchor positioning and view transitions as much as the next guy, but it’s ever so refreshing to read about down-to-earth #CSS stuff:
blog.kizu.dev/fixing-basel... by @kizu.dev
Initially I misinterpreted the title, I thought this was about Baseline browser compatibility.
blog.kizu.dev/fixing-basel... by @kizu.dev
Initially I misinterpreted the title, I thought this was about Baseline browser compatibility.
Fixing Baselines
Do you know how to center things in CSS? In year 2025? Easy! You just… align… or justify…, ok, maybe just place? your content… or items? …Forget it, this post is not about alignment. Or is it? This po...
blog.kizu.dev
November 9, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Sure, I enjoy reading about anchor positioning and view transitions as much as the next guy, but it’s ever so refreshing to read about down-to-earth #CSS stuff:
blog.kizu.dev/fixing-basel... by @kizu.dev
Initially I misinterpreted the title, I thought this was about Baseline browser compatibility.
blog.kizu.dev/fixing-basel... by @kizu.dev
Initially I misinterpreted the title, I thought this was about Baseline browser compatibility.
Oh, wow, I somehow missed that my lil article made it into The Index. Thanks @piccalil.li 😊
piccalil.li/the-index/139/
piccalil.li/the-index/139/
The Index: Issue #139
Happy Wednesday! It feels like today is better than it could have been, all of a sudden, because The Index #139 is here with the good links.
piccalil.li
November 7, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Oh, wow, I somehow missed that my lil article made it into The Index. Thanks @piccalil.li 😊
piccalil.li/the-index/139/
piccalil.li/the-index/139/
I have a philosophical thought experiment for you:
If a redesign happens in the open, and no one is around to see it, did it go live?
cssence.com/2025/without...
#CSS #blog #redesign
If a redesign happens in the open, and no one is around to see it, did it go live?
cssence.com/2025/without...
#CSS #blog #redesign
Redesigning in the open - Without further notice
The quiet way: How to not (or how not to) announce a redesign.
cssence.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:21 AM
I have a philosophical thought experiment for you:
If a redesign happens in the open, and no one is around to see it, did it go live?
cssence.com/2025/without...
#CSS #blog #redesign
If a redesign happens in the open, and no one is around to see it, did it go live?
cssence.com/2025/without...
#CSS #blog #redesign