Tutorials

Sass @error

Posted in Sass Tutorial

Updated on Sep 29, 2024

By Mari Selvan

👁️ 22 - Views

⏳ 4 mins

💬 1 Comment

Photo Credit to CodeToFun

🙋 Introduction

The @error directive in Sass is used to generate custom error messages during the compilation of Sass code. It allows developers to throw errors with specific messages, making debugging easier and improving code maintainability.

This directive is particularly useful for catching mistakes in mixins, functions, or other Sass constructs and providing clear feedback.

💡 Syntax

The syntax for the @error directive is simple and straightforward. It takes a single argument:

Syntax

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@error message;

🔢 Parameters

message: The error message to be displayed when the @error directive is encountered.

↩️ Return Value

The @error directive does not return a value. Instead, it halts the Sass compilation process and outputs the provided error message.

📝 Example Usage

Let’s explore some examples to understand how the @error directive can be used in Sass.

📜 Example 1: Basic Usage

example.scss

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@mixin example-mixin($color) {
  @if not $color {
    @error "Color is required for this mixin.";
  }

  // Use $color in some way
  .example {
    color: $color;
  }
}

In this example, the @error directive is used to ensure that a color is provided to the mixin. If the color is missing, a custom error message is thrown, halting compilation and informing the developer of the issue.

📜 Example 2: Error Handling in Functions

example.scss

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@function calculate-width($percentage) {
  @if $percentage < 0 or $percentage > 100 {
    @error "Percentage must be between 0 and 100.";
  }

  @return $percentage * 1px;
}

.element {
  width: calculate-width(120%); // This will throw an error
}

Here, the @error directive is used in a function to validate the percentage value. If the value is out of the valid range, an error message is generated.

📜 Example 3: Conditional Error Messages

example.scss

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@mixin responsive-grid($columns) {
  @if $columns < 1 or $columns > 12 {
    @error "Column count must be between 1 and 12.";
  }

  // Grid layout code
  .grid {
    // Code here
  }
}

In this example, the @error directive checks if the number of columns is within a valid range. If not, it throws an appropriate error message.

🎉 Conclusion

The @error directive in Sass is a valuable tool for improving the robustness and clarity of your Sass code. By allowing you to generate custom error messages, it helps catch mistakes early and provides clear feedback, making debugging easier. Whether used in mixins, functions, or other parts of your Sass code, @error ensures that your stylesheets are more reliable and maintainable.

Incorporating @error into your development process can greatly enhance your ability to manage complex stylesheets and ensure that your Sass code functions as expected. By leveraging this directive, you can provide meaningful error messages that help you and your team quickly identify and resolve issues.