Introduction to Bootstrap

What is Bootstrap

Bootstrap is commanding front-end framework for quicker and easier web development. It contains HTML and CSS based design templates for common user interface components like Forms, Typography, Navigations, Buttons, Tables, Dropdowns, Alerts, Tabs, Accordion, Modals, Carousel and many other as well as optional JavaScript extensions. 

Bootstrap also provides you ability to make responsive layout with much less energies.

Bootstrap Advantages

The main advantage of using Bootstrap is that it comes with free set of tools and techniques for producing flexible and responsive web layouts as well as common interface components.

Moreover, using the Bootstrap data APIs you can make advanced interface components like Typeaheads and Scroll spy without scripting or writing a single line of JavaScript.

Some more advantages, why one should choose for Bootstrap:

• Consistent design — All Bootstrap components share the similar design templates and styles over a central library, so that the layouts and designs of your web pages are reliable throughout your development.
• Save lots of time — You can save tons of time and energies using the Bootstrap predefined design templates and classes and focus on other development work.
• Easy to use — Bootstrap is very easy to use. Anyone with the straightforward working knowledge of HTML and CSS can start development with Bootstrap.
• Responsive features — By means of Bootstrap you can simply create responsive designs. Bootstrap responsive features make your website pages to look more properly on different devices and screen resolutions without any change in markup.
• Open Source — The best part of bootstrap is, it is totally free to download and use.
• Compatible with browsers — Bootstrap is shaped with modern browsers in mind and it is compatible with all up-to-date browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Opera, and Internet Explorer.

Downloading the Bootstrap Files

Two versions available for download, compiled Bootstrap and Bootstrap source files. You can download Bootstrap files from here.

Compiled download comprises of compiled and minified version of CSS and JavaScript files as well as icons in font format for quicker and easier web development, whereas the source contain original source files for CSS and JavaScript, along with a local copy of the docs.

For better understanding we'll effort and focus on the compiled Bootstrap files. It saves your time as you don't have to bother every time including separate files for individual functionality. It will also rise the performance of your website and saves the valuable bandwidth when you decided to move your site on creation because of lesser HTTP request and download size since files are compiled and minified.