Flexbox & Grid

CSS Flexbox: The Ultimate Guide for Beginners

Flexbox is a powerful layout module designed for arranging elements efficiently, even when their sizes are unknown or dynamic.

Key Flexbox Properties

• display: flex; – Enables flexbox on a container.
• flex-direction – Defines the direction of items (row, column).
• justify-content – Aligns items along the main axis (flex-start, center, space-between).
• align-items – Aligns items along the cross-axis (stretch, center).

Example: Simple Flexbox Layout

.container {
  display: flex;
  justify-content: space-between;
  align-items: center;
}

Real-World Flexbox Layouts: Common Use Cases and Examples

Flexbox is widely used for modern responsive designs. Here are some examples:

Centering Content

.center {
  display: flex;
  justify-content: center;
  align-items: center;
  height: 100vh;
}

Navigation Bars

.nav {
  display: flex;
  justify-content: space-around;
}

CSS Grid: The Most Powerful Layout System Explained

CSS Grid provides a two-dimensional system for creating complex layouts with rows and columns.

Key Grid Properties

• display: grid; – Enables grid layout.
• grid-template-columns – Defines column structure.
• grid-template-rows – Defines row structure.
• gap – Adds spacing between grid items.

Example: Simple Grid Layout

.grid-container {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
  gap: 10px;
}

Flexbox vs. Grid: When to Use Which?

When to Use Flexbox

• Aligning items in a row or column.
• Simple layouts like navigation bars.

When to Use Grid

• Complex, multi-row/column layouts.
• Responsive designs requiring precise positioning.

Conclusion

Both Flexbox and Grid are essential tools for modern web layouts. Understanding when to use each will help create flexible and efficient designs.