CSS Layout for Beginners
Start with CSS layout basics — block, inline, flexbox, and grid — with visual examples and interactive demos.
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CSS Layout for Beginners CSS layout controls how elements are positioned and sized on the page. This guide walks through the core concepts in the order they build on each other — starting with how browsers naturally render elements, then introducing flexbox and grid as explicit layout tools. --- What is the box model? Every element in HTML is a box. Before you can position elements, you need to understand what makes up that box. The critical fix: By default, padding and border add to the declared width, making math annoying. Set globally: With , means the entire box (including padding and border) is 200px. Margin is always external. --- What is Normal Flow? Without any layout CSS, elements follow normal flow: Block elements (div, p, h1–h6, article, section, header, footer) stack…
Frequently Asked Questions
What are CSS layout modes?
CSS has several layout modes: normal flow (default block/inline), flexbox (one-dimensional), grid (two-dimensional), positioned layout (absolute/fixed/sticky), and multi-column layout. Modern web development primarily uses flexbox and grid, with positioned layout for overlays, tooltips, and sticky navigation.
How do I center a div in CSS?
The most reliable way: apply `display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center` to the parent element. For centering a block element with a known width, `margin: 0 auto` works. For absolute/fixed positioning, use `position: absolute; top: 50%; left: 50%; transform: translate(-50%, -50%)`.
What is the box model in CSS?
Every element in CSS is a rectangular box with four layers: content (the actual text or children), padding (space inside the border), border (the element's edge), and margin (space outside the border). Set `box-sizing: border-box` on all elements so that padding and border are included in the declared width and height.
What is normal flow in CSS?
Normal flow is how elements behave without any layout CSS applied. Block elements (div, p, h1) stack vertically, each on its own line, taking full available width. Inline elements (span, a, strong) sit in line with text, only as wide as their content. Floats, flexbox, and grid all change this default behavior.
How do I create a two-column layout?
The simplest approach: `display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; gap: 1rem` on the container. For a sidebar-content layout: `grid-template-columns: 250px 1fr`. For equal columns that stack on mobile, add `@media (max-width: 640px) { grid-template-columns: 1fr }`.
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