Ronalds Vilciņš

CSS Grid vs Flexbox

In the world of websites, we’ve always looked for better ways to arrange things on a page. We used to use tables and other tricks, but now we have CSS Grid and Flexbox. These are two great ways to put stuff where we want on a website. But which one is better? Or when should we use one over the other?

What is Flexbox? #

Flexbox, short for “Flexible Box,” is a way to make items line up in a row or a column. It’s great when you want things to fit neatly, even if they are different sizes.

Key Features #

  • Make items line up in a row (flex-direction: row) or a column (flex-direction: column).
  • Space items out or bunch them together (justify-content).
  • Align items up, down, or center (align-items).
  • Decide if items should wrap onto the next line or not (flex-wrap).

What is CSS Grid? #

CSS Grid is like drawing a grid on a piece of paper and placing items in the squares. It’s great for layouts with rows and columns at the same time.

Key Features #

  • Decide how many rows and columns you want (grid-template-rows and grid-template-columns).
  • Space between rows and columns (grid-gap).
  • Place items in specific squares (grid-area).

Key Differences Between Flexbox and CSS Grid #

  • Flexbox is for lining things up in a straight line.
  • CSS Grid is for making a grid with rows and columns.
  • Flexbox is great for things like menus or aligning a few items.
  • CSS Grid is best for the main layout of a page.

When to Use Which? #

Flexbox:

  • For simple lists or menus.
  • When items are different sizes but you want them to fit neatly.

CSS Grid:

  • When you want a full page layout with sidebars, headers, and more.
  • When you know where each item should go on the grid.

Real-world Examples #

  • Flexbox: Think of a navigation bar at the top of a website. The items space out nicely, no matter how wide the screen is.

  • CSS Grid: Imagine a newspaper layout with headlines, columns of text, and pictures. Everything has its place.

Combining Flexbox and CSS Grid #

Sometimes, you can use both! For example, you might use CSS Grid for the main layout of a page but use Flexbox for a menu or a small group of items inside one of the grid squares.

Both Flexbox and CSS Grid are super useful for making websites. Flexbox is all about lining things up in a row or column, while CSS Grid helps you make more complex layouts. Knowing when to use each one can make your website look great and work well.