CSS Validator
Validate your CSS syntax and catch errors with precise line and column numbers.
About CSS Validator
CSS Validator is a free online tool that parses your stylesheet using the css-tree library and reports every syntax error with its exact line and column number. A single missing semicolon or an unclosed brace can silently break an entire cascade of rules in some browsers while appearing fine in others — this tool surfaces those hidden problems before they reach production.
It is built for the moments where the browser developer tools are not enough: reviewing a third-party stylesheet you did not write, debugging a preprocessor output that looks correct at a glance, or doing a quick sanity-check on generated CSS before committing. Unlike a formatter or minifier, the validator does not change your code at all — it only reads it, parses the full AST, and tells you what is structurally wrong.
All parsing runs entirely in your browser using the css-tree library. Your stylesheet is never uploaded to a server, so proprietary design tokens, internal class-naming conventions, and unreleased brand styles stay on your machine. There are no usage limits, no accounts required, and no cost.
Key Features
Precise error locations
Every error is reported with the exact line number and column offset so you can jump straight to the problem without scanning the file manually.
AST-based parsing
Uses css-tree to build a full abstract syntax tree rather than line-by-line pattern matching, which catches structural issues that simple regex checks miss.
Handles at-rules and media queries
Validates @media, @keyframes, @import, @supports, and other at-rule blocks, not just plain rule sets and declarations.
File upload support
Drag and drop or upload a .css or .txt file directly — useful for checking a downloaded stylesheet without opening a code editor.
100% client-side
Parsing happens locally in your browser. Nothing is transmitted to any server, making it safe for proprietary, internal, or unreleased stylesheets.
Built-in sample fixtures
Load a known-valid or known-invalid CSS sample with one click to explore the tool output before testing your own code.
How to Use
Paste Your CSS
Copy your CSS stylesheet and paste it into the editor, or upload a .css file.
Validate
Click "Validate" to parse your CSS and check for syntax errors.
Fix Errors
Review the error list with line numbers and fix each issue in your source code.
Example
The validator catches a missing semicolon on line 2 and a missing colon on line 8, reporting exact positions for each error.
.container {
max-width: 1200px
margin: 0 auto;
}
.card {
border-radius: 12px;
background white;
} Invalid CSS — 2 errors found
Line 2, Col 17: Colon is expected
Line 8, Col 12: Colon is expected Common Use Cases
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Pre-commit stylesheet checks
Run the validator on your CSS output before committing to catch typos introduced during editing — especially useful when multiple team members touch the same file.
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Auditing third-party or generated CSS
When you receive a stylesheet from a vendor, a design export tool, or a preprocessor you do not control, the validator confirms it is structurally sound before you include it in your project.
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Debugging cross-browser rendering differences
A declaration that is silently skipped by one browser often has a syntax error. The validator finds the offending line so you can determine whether the problem is a bug or a typo.
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Learning CSS syntax
Students and developers new to CSS can paste their experiments and get immediate feedback on syntax mistakes with exact locations, rather than inferring errors from visual side-effects.
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Verifying minifier output before deployment
After running a CSS minifier, paste the output here to confirm the minification did not introduce structural errors before it goes live. This is a distinct step from formatting or compressing — you are checking correctness, not style.