CSS minification is the process of removing unnecessary characters from your CSS files without changing their functionality. This includes whitespace, comments, line breaks, and formatting that are useful for developers but unnecessary for browsers. The result is a significantly smaller file that loads faster.

When you minify CSS, you transform code like this:

                            /* Navigation styles */
                            .nav-bar {
                                margin: 0;
                                padding: 10px;
                                background-color: #ffffff;
                            }
                            

Into this optimized version:

                            .nav-bar{margin:0;padding:10px;background-color:#fff}
                            

Key benefits of CSS minification include:

• Faster page loading - Smaller files download quicker
• Reduced bandwidth usage - Saves resources for both hosts and visitors
• Improved SEO - Page speed is a ranking factor
• Better user experience - Pages render faster

You can minify CSS using various tools: online minifiers (like CSS Minifier), build tools (such as Gulp or Webpack), or WordPress plugins if you're using that platform. Most hosting control panels also offer optimization features that include CSS minification.

Remember to always keep an unminified version of your CSS for editing, and only deploy the minified version to your live website. This ensures you can easily maintain your code while providing optimal performance to your visitors.