What are the requirements for Webflow Portfolio examples in regards to the depth of combo classes?
TL;DR
- Limit Combo Classes to 2–3 levels deep for clarity, maintainability, and to avoid CSS conflicts.
- Use consistent, semantic naming and frameworks like Client-First to demonstrate structured, reusable class systems in portfolios.
Webflow portfolio projects often showcase Combo Classes to demonstrate styling versatility, but excessive depth can lead to maintainability issues. Webflow doesn’t officially limit the depth of Combo Classes, but there are best practices to follow for usability and clarity in your portfolio.
1. Understand Combo Classes in Webflow
- Combo Classes are variations of a base class that allow for minor styling changes (e.g.,
.Button.Primary,.Button.Primary.Large). - They are helpful for modifying a base style without creating an entirely new class.
- You can continue adding Combo Classes, but Webflow treats each new combination as a variation of the base.
2. Recommended Combo Class Depth
- Best Practice: Limit Combo Classes to 2–3 layers deep (e.g.,
.Card,.Card.Featured,.Card.Featured.Dark). - Why Limit Depth:
- Easier visual management in the Webflow Style panel.
- Avoids specificity conflicts in CSS.
- Keeps code clean and understandable for reviewers/potential employers.
3. Expectations for Portfolio Projects
- Clean, semantic structure: Showcase that you understand when to use a base class vs. nested Combo Classes.
- Consistent naming: Use descriptive naming with logical Combo additions (e.g.,
.Section.Padded.Large). - Avoid overnesting: Projects with long chains like
.Button.Primary.Large.Rounded.WithIcon.Blue.Shadowedcan indicate poor class strategy. - Demonstrate reuse: Example: a
.Card.Featuredclass should be used in multiple places if it's meaningful, showing your systemization skills.
4. Use Client-First or Similar Methodologies
- Frameworks like Client-First (by Finsweet) or SystemFlow guide structured class naming and manage Combo Class depth effectively.
- These are valued in portfolios because they reflect organized thinking and scalability.
Summary
Limit Combo Class depth to 2–3 levels to maintain clarity and avoid unnecessary complexity. Hiring managers or reviewers typically look for structured, reusable, and readable class systems over complex Combo Class chains.