---
title: "stylesheet · Link relation · zhead"
canonical_url: "https://zhead.dev/link/stylesheet"
last_updated: "2026-08-13T08:00:02.758Z"
meta:
  description: "Fetches a CSS style sheet and applies it to the document."
  "og:description": "Fetches a CSS style sheet and applies it to the document."
  "og:title": "stylesheet · Link relation · zhead"
---

Link

# stylesheet

Fetches a CSS style sheet and applies it to the document.

## Code examples

Good example

```
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/styles.css">
```

Loads and applies the site style sheet.

Good example

```
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" media="print">
```

Applies this style sheet when the document is printed or previewed for print.

Avoid this example

```
<link rel="stylesheet">
```

Has no href, so there is no style sheet to fetch or apply.

## Recommendations

- 01 Use media for conditional styles Set media when a sheet applies only in conditions such as print. The browser can still fetch it, but may give it a different priority.
- 02 Link CSS directly A stylesheet link lets the browser discover CSS from HTML. CSS @import rules are found only after the containing sheet has arrived and been parsed.
- 03 Avoid preload duplication A stylesheet link already fetches its CSS. If you also preload the file, make sure the URL, destination, and CORS mode match exactly.

## Related documentation

- [HTML Living Standard: Links](https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/links.html#link-type-stylesheet)