How do I override Bootstrap CSS safely using the Cascade layers approach?

Asked on Jul 21, 2025

Answer

To safely override Bootstrap CSS using the Cascade layers approach, you can define your custom styles in a separate stylesheet and load it after the Bootstrap CSS file. This ensures your custom styles take precedence due to the cascade order.

<!-- BEGIN COPY / PASTE -->
        <!-- Link to Bootstrap CSS -->
        <link href="https://stackpath.bootstrapcdn.com/bootstrap/5.3.0/css/bootstrap.min.css" rel="stylesheet">

        <!-- Your custom CSS -->
        <style>
            /* Example: Override Bootstrap's primary button color */
            .btn-primary {
                background-color: #ff5733; /* Custom color */
                border-color: #ff5733; /* Custom border color */
            }
        </style>
        <!-- END COPY / PASTE -->

Additional Comment:

Load your custom CSS after the Bootstrap CSS to ensure it takes precedence.
Use specific selectors to override Bootstrap styles effectively.
Test your changes across different components to ensure consistency.

✅ Answered with Bootstrap 5 best practices.