# The Dark Side of Polyfilling CSS

DevFeed: [The Dark Side of Polyfilling CSS](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/the-dark-side-of-polyfilling-css-29527.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://philipwalton.com/articles/the-dark-side-of-polyfilling-css/>)

Published: 2016-12-22T18:18:08Z

Content type: article

Language: en

Sources: [Philip Walton](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/philip-walton.md>)

Topics: [CSS](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/css.md>), [polyfill](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/polyfill.md>), [modern web development](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/modern-web-development.md>)

Tags: [article](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/article.md>), [css](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/css.md>), [polyfill](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/polyfill.md>)

## AI overview

This article explains why polyfilling CSS is difficult by building a polyfill for a hypothetical CSS keyword that returns a random number between 0 and 1. It contrasts CSS with JavaScript polyfills and explains how Houdini APIs could make CSS polyfilling possible in ways that are not currently available.

## Source excerpt

Earlier this year I wrote an article for Smashing Magazine about Houdini, and I called it the "most exciting development in CSS you've never heard of". In the article I argue that Houdini APIs will (among other things) make it possible to polyfill CSS features in a way that simply cannot be done today.