The main difference between Sass and SCSS is the syntax. SCSS uses curly braces {} and semicolon similar to standard CSS; to facilitate the transition from CSS, and supports direct copying of CSS code and adding variables, mixing and other functions; while Sass adopts indented syntax, no curly braces and semicolons are required, and relies on line breaks and spaces to define code blocks. It has a simpler style but is also easy to cause problems due to format errors. The two can be converted to each other through tools. Modern frameworks mostly use SCSS by default because they are easier to learn and have rich resources; file extensions are .sass and .scss respectively, and the choice should be based on personal or team preferences.

Sass and SCSS are both CSS preprocessors, but they different mainly in syntax. Sass was the original syntax, while SCSS (Sassy CSS) is a newer format that's more similar to standard CSS.

SCSS Looks Like Regular CSS

SCSS syntax uses the same block formatting as regular CSS — curly braces {} to wrap selectors and semicolons ; to end lines. This makes it very easy to transition from plain CSS to SCSS because you can literally copy your CSS into an SCSS file and start adding features like variables and mixins right away.

For example:

 .container {
  width: 100%;
  background-color: #f0f0f0;
}

This familiarity helps developers who are new to preprocessors feel more comfortable using SCSS without learning a completely new way of writing styles.

Sass Uses Indentation Instead of Braces

The original Sass syntax relies on indentation to define blocks, much like Python or YAML. It doesn't require curly braces or semicolons — instead, line breaks and spacing do the job.

Here's the same code written in Sass:

 .container
  width: 100%
  background-color: #f0f0f0

This can make your code look cleaner and more minimal, but also means that formatting mistakes — like mixing spaces and tabs — can cause errors.

Some people prefer this style for its simplicity and readability, especially when working with deep nested rules.

You Can Convert Between Sass and SCSS

It's possible to convert files from one syntax to the other using tools like the Sass converter in Dart Sass. This allows teams to choose their preferred syntax or migrate legacy codebases easily.

If you're starting a new project, most modern frameworks and build tools default to SCSS because of its wider adoption and easier learning curve.

Also, keep in mind:

• File extensions matter: .sass for the indented syntax, .scss for SCSS.
• Most online examples and tutorials use SCSS these days, so finding resources for the original Sass syntax might be harder.

Final Thought

Which one you use really comes down to personal preference or team standards. If you like clean, minimal formatting and don't mind strict indentation rules, go with Sass. But if you want something that feels just like CSS with extra power under the hood, SCSS is probably the better fit.

Either way, both give you the same features — variables, nesting, mixins, imports, and more. So pick the one that feels right and go with it.

Basically that's it.

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