So, it can be said that Flexbox, or CSS Flexible Box Layout , was the best possible answer to this need, as it offers a more efficient and less complex solution than previous methods such as floats and tables. This explains why almost all modern browsers support flexbox today, and why we're here to explain exactly what it is and how to use it to your advantage!
What is Flexbox?
Flexbox is a one-dimensional layout model that provides full control over the alignment, direction, and order of elements within a container. By declaring an element as a flexbox container , all of its direct 'children' become flexible elements, also known as 'flex items' .
Flexbox thus allows you to manage the distribution of space between elements so that they can adapt to the size available in the container. This is achieved through properties such as 'flex-grow', 'flex-shrink' and 'flex-basis', which determine how an element can grow or shrink in relation to the available space and its base size.
For example, 'flex-grow' controls how much an element can grow to take up excess space, while 'flex-shrink' indicates how much an element can shrink if space is limited.
In addition, flexbox also manages the visual order of elements using the 'order' property, allowing them to be rearranged visually without changing the HTML, something especially useful given the increasin malta business email list g importance of design on web pages .
What is flexbox?
How does Flexbox work?
Flexbox is a great tool for web design, as it facilitates the flexible and efficient arrangement of elements in a container . The key to its operation lies in the management of space and alignment through a set of properties applicable to both the container and the child elements.
Use the 'display: flex;' command to create a flex container , allowing its child elements to be treated as flex items.
Determine its direction using the 'flex-direction' property, which controls the main direction of the container, which can be horizontal (row) or vertical (column).
Use 'justify-content' to control the horizontal distribution of elements, or 'align-items' for their vertical alignment.
It is possible to manage the way elements grow with properties like 'flex-grow', 'flex-shrink' and 'flex-basis'.
You can also align a specific element independently using the 'align-self' command.
Using the 'flex-wrap' command will help you control whether elements stay on one line or can flow across multiple lines within the container.
Does Flexbox support all browsers?
Flexbox is supported by most modern browsers , including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. However, some specific properties may require vendor prefixes or may not be fully supported by older versions of these browsers. For example, it is less supported by older versions of Internet Explorer.
How to create equal height rows with flexbox?
To create rows of equal height with Flexbox, you can use the 'align-items' property with the value 'stretch', which will cause all child items (flex items) of the container to stretch vertically to take up the full height of the container, ensuring that all rows are the same height.
Flexbox vs. CSS Grid
Flexbox and CSS Grid are both very useful tools for layout design, but each offers its own strengths depending on the context of use.
Flexbox is a one-dimensional model ideal for layouts in a single direction, horizontal or vertical. Grid is two-dimensional , allowing it to manage rows and columns at the same time.
Flexbox distributes space between items along a main axis. Grid offers finer control over spatial distribution in both rows and columns.
While the first software is perfect for simpler layouts and UI components where the main direction is clear, the second is better for more complex layouts with different content areas that need precise alignment.
Both systems offer advanced alignment, but Grid provides more options for aligning content along two axes and managing spacing between elements much more precisely.
When choosing between CSS Grid or Flexbox , consider the complexity of the layout you need. There is no one better than the other, both are equally suitable depending on the needs you need to cover!
Practical examples of flexbox
Flexbox is a very versatile design template, which allows it to be used in different web contexts with the aim of improving its layout and interactivity, such as the following examples:
Flexbox makes it easy to create responsive navigation bars by allowing elements to be aligned and distributed evenly regardless of the space available to them based on different screen sizes.
It also allows you to create thumbnail galleries that adapt to the width of the container , wrapping images on new lines as needed.
Additionally, Flexbox allows you to structure forms so that they dynamically adjust to the view , which is very useful for long forms that need to be rearranged in different screen configurations.
