If I use a style tag inside HTML, would you say that webpage uses CSS, or does not use CSS?

depends!

Are there any style rules in the page or just a <style> tag

well, not an empty tag of course.

something like <div style="position: relative;">

In my opinion that would not be CSS - CSS is when it's either inside the head tags of the page or in a separate style sheet altogether. Preferrably the later. But then others may have a different opinion.

Originally Posted by Se7enLC

If I use a style tag inside HTML, would you say that webpage uses CSS, or does not use CSS?

First off, "style" is not a tag, it's an attribute. The page is then using a style attribute, not CSS (Cascading Style Sheet) which is utilized using IDs and "class" attributes.

But there IS a style tag, so you can't say that. Inline styles would be attributes.
The document would still be using CSS, just not as efficiently.

Originally Posted by Se7enLC

well, not an empty tag of course.

something like <div style="position: relative;">

See how confusing it is when you don't get the names right

</style> is a style tag

<style type="text/css>
Style Rules
</style> is a stylesheet element

and <HTML_tag style="style rules"> is an attribute

Originally Posted by LadynRed

But there IS a style tag, so you can't say that. Inline styles would be attributes.
The document would still be using CSS, just not as efficiently.

He was referring to the style attribute, not the style HTML tag.

I was originally referring to the style tag (embeded style), but also added the style attribute on an element tag I gave the example of (inline style)

The question is, would you say that a document that includes styles like that "uses CSS" or "Does not use CSS"? In terms of comparing a document that is "plain html" to an "html with css" page.

Note that I am not saying "has a stylesheet" or "has an external stylesheet", just "uses CSS".

I was having a debate with a coworker about this when I said that CSS allows you to do things that HTML alone doesn't have the facilities to (floating divs, background colors on any element, etc). She believes that if you don't use an external stylesheet that it's not CSS. I beg to differ and say that if you include CSS inline or embeded, it's still CSS, just like if you include javascript it's still javascript.

If you have any element that is altered by a CSS style rule, the page uses CSS.

So that's two votes for "CSS", one vote for "not CSS", and one vote for "learn the difference between a tag and an attribute" :-P

Any other opinions - or anyone know of a definitive answer source? I thought it was very obviously "CSS", but sandyk seems to agree with my coworker. Is that just a common misconception, or is there no correct answer?

There is no debate. Inline styles are still technically and truly CSS no matter what semantics you apply to it, they are just, as was already pointed out, not a very efficient way of using CSS. You won't find anything about style rules in the HTML specs.

If you want further proof of this, you can read the rules about inline styles in the CSS specs:

http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/present/styles.html

Inline styles are a part of the Cascade itself, and override any styles present in 1. External stylesheets linked to with the <link> tag 2. Imported stylesheets. 3.Styles in the header inside <style> tags, in that order. Note that styles tagged with !important will override inline styles.

***EDIT***
http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/cascade.html#q12

In HTML, values of an element's "style" attribute are style sheet rules. These rules have no selectors, but for the purpose of step 3 of the cascade algorithm, they are considered to have an ID selector.

If would look good if you use css. . .

Inline sytyles are definaly style sheets.