BEM (Block, Element, Modifier) is a widely adopted naming convention in web development, especially for CSS, because it provides a clear, maintainable, and scalable methodology for naming and structuring CSS classes. The convention breaks down the user interface into independent blocks, elements within those blocks, and modifiers that alter the appearance or behavior of those blocks or elements.
BEEEEEEM, which stands for Block, Element, Element, Element, Element, Element, Modifier, suggests a much more nested and complex structure. Here are several reasons why BEEEEEEM is not preferred over BEM:
- BEM:
block__element--modifier(e.g.,button__icon--large) - BEEEEEEM:
block__element__element__element__element__element--modifier
The BEM convention is straightforward and easy to read. In contrast, BEEEEEEM's excessive nesting can make class names long, cumbersome, and hard to understand.
Deeply nested structures (as implied by BEEEEEEM) can make the CSS harder to maintain. Changes in deeply nested elements often require updates across multiple places, increasing the risk of errors and inconsistencies.
Long class names and highly specific selectors can impact CSS parsing performance in the browser. BEM encourages minimal and flat class structures, which are more performance-friendly.
As a project grows, using an excessively nested naming convention like BEEEEEEM can become unmanageable. BEM's simpler structure scales more effectively for large codebases.
BEM helps manage CSS specificity in a predictable way, reducing the need for overly specific selectors and !important rules. BEEEEEEM, with its potential for deep nesting, might lead to higher specificity that complicates overrides and debugging.
Industry standards and best practices generally favor BEM for its balance between structure and simplicity. BEEEEEEM deviates from this balance, introducing unnecessary complexity without substantial benefits.
In summary, BEM is preferred over BEEEEEEM because it promotes simplicity, readability, maintainability, performance, and scalability in CSS development. Excessively nested structures, as suggested by BEEEEEEM, tend to introduce more problems than they solve.