What is the purpose of a CSS reset?

The purpose of a CSS reset is to standardize styles by removing default browser styles. Each web browser has its own set of default styles applied to HTML elements, which can lead to inconsistent appearances across different browsers. A CSS reset aims to eliminate these inconsistencies by setting all elements to a consistent baseline, where margins, paddings, font sizes, and line heights are typically set to zero or a standard value. This allows web designers to start with a clean slate and apply their own styles, ensuring that their website looks the same regardless of the browser used to view it.

While the intention behind applying different font styles can affect appearance, this is not the primary goal of a CSS reset. Similarly, creating new browser-specific styles and enhancing image quality during rendering do not relate directly to the function of a CSS reset, as the priority is to negate the default styling variances across different browsers.