What does CSS stand for in web development?

CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheets, which is a fundamental language used in web development for describing the presentation of web pages, including aspects such as layout, colors, fonts, and overall aesthetic elements. The term "cascading" reflects the way styles can cascade or inherit properties from one style sheet to another, allowing for more flexibility and organization in how styles are applied. This means that multiple styles can be layered, with the possibility of overriding defaults based on specificity and order of inclusion.

Understanding CSS is vital for web developers, as it enhances the visual appeal and user experience of web applications. Using CSS, developers can create responsive designs that adapt to various screen sizes, ensuring that websites are user-friendly across devices.