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CSS Layout Generator

Design responsive web layouts with ease using CSS Grid or Flexbox. This interactive tool helps you visualize and generate the CSS code for common layout patterns. Experiment with columns, rows, and gaps to create the perfect structure for your web pages, ensuring a clean and organized design.

Layout Controls

Layout Preview

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Generated CSS Code

Understanding CSS Layouts: Grid vs. Flexbox

CSS provides powerful tools for creating responsive and dynamic web layouts. The two most prominent are CSS Grid Layout and Flexbox. While both are designed for arranging content, they excel in different scenarios.

  • CSS Grid Layout: A two-dimensional layout system, meaning it can handle both columns and rows simultaneously. It's ideal for designing the overall page structure or complex, intersecting layouts. Think of it as a grid system for your entire page.
  • Flexbox (Flexible Box Layout): A one-dimensional layout system, meaning it can arrange items in either a row or a column. It's perfect for distributing space among items in a single dimension, aligning content, and creating flexible components. Think of it as a powerful tool for aligning and distributing items within a container.

Often, the best approach is to use them together: Grid for the macro-layout (overall page structure) and Flexbox for the micro-layout (arranging content within individual grid cells or components).

Key Properties for CSS Grid

grid-template-columns

Defines the number and size of columns in the grid. You can use fixed units (px, em, rem), percentages, or the fr unit (a fractional unit that distributes available space).

grid-template-rows

Similar to grid-template-columns, but defines the number and size of rows in the grid.

gap (or grid-gap)

Sets the size of the gaps between rows and columns. This is a shorthand for row-gap and column-gap.

justify-items / align-items

These properties control the alignment of content within grid cells along the row (justify) and column (align) axes.

Tips for Responsive Layouts

  • Mobile First: Start designing for smaller screens first, then progressively enhance for larger screens.
  • Fluid Units: Use relative units like percentages, em, rem, and fr units in Grid to ensure your layout scales gracefully.
  • Media Queries: Use CSS media queries to apply different styles based on screen size, orientation, or resolution.
  • Min/Max Functions: Employ min(), max(), and clamp() CSS functions for more flexible sizing controls.
  • Accessibility: Ensure your layouts are navigable and usable for all users, including those with assistive technologies.

Mastering CSS layouts is fundamental to modern web development. With Grid and Flexbox, you have powerful tools to create complex, responsive, and accessible designs.