What are CSS Grid Container Elements?
Understanding the behavior of CSS container elements is fundamental to mastering web design. One of the most prominent elements in this area is the CSS Grid, which allows order and aesthetics in our layouts. Although display: grid
is commonly used, it is also crucial to know other values such as display: inline grid
. The proper selection among these values will directly influence the presentation and behavior of our elements.
Why is the display value important?
The term "display" translates to show or display. In CSS, the display value defines how an element is displayed and has two fundamental roles:
- External (outer) display: Determines how an element behaves in relation to other elements within the document.
- Internal display: Directs how the direct children of the element are organized internally.
How do different display values behave?
When you set up a container with CSS Grid, you are combining external and internal behavior with predefined values in CSS3. Let's explore more about how these values affect the elements on your page:
-
display: block
and display: grid
: Elements with display: block grid
behave externally as blocks and internally arrange their children in a grid.
-
display: inline flex
: Here we see a similar external behavior to an inline element, but internally they organize their children using Flexbox rules.
These behaviors help developers anticipate how their elements will interact with the rest of the page content.
What is normal document flow in CSS?
Normal document flow refers to the natural order in which HTML elements are displayed in a document. Each HTML element has a default display value that affects that flow, either as a block or as an inline element.
What is the difference between block and inline elements?
-
Block elements: They include margins, padding, and defined dimensions, occupying the entire available width. Typical examples are <header>
, <section>
and title elements such as <h1>
.
-
Inline elements: They fit the content they host without occupying the entire line. They are used to highlight parts of text or elements such as <span>
.
What is the current approach in CSS3?
In CSS3, displays such as flex
and grid
are introduced, keeping the basics established in CSS2. However, these new values now intrinsically come with a default behavior that developers can employ without explicitly specifying "block" or "inline".
Knowledge and effective use of display: flex
and display: grid
allows for advanced layout manipulation and unparalleled control over the arrangement of elements on screen.
Tip for developers
Incorporating an understanding of these concepts into your daily practice will immensely improve your web design skills. Experiment with different display combinations to suit your specific needs and provide a more consistent and engaging user experience. Remember that continuous practice and constant learning are the keys to achieving mastery in CSS and web design in general - keep exploring and developing your skills!
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