Using Display, Float, and Position to Control Layout

CSS provides several properties that you can use to control the layout of your web pages. In this article, we’ll cover the display, float, and position properties and how you can use them to create different types of layouts.

The Display Property

The display property is used to specify the type of box an element should generate. It can take on several different values, each of which affects the layout of the element in different ways.

Here are a few common values of the display property:

• block: Generates a block-level box, which takes up the full width of its parent container and creates a new line after it.
• inline: Generates an inline-level box, which takes up only as much space as its content and does not create a new line after it.
• inline-block: Generates an inline-level box, but allows you to specify dimensions (such as width and height) and apply other block-level styles to it.

The Float Property

The float property is used to float an element to the left or right of its parent container. It can take on the values “left” and “right”, and causes the element to be taken out of the normal flow of the document and shifted to the specified side.

The float property is often used to create multi-column layouts, as it allows you to place multiple elements side-by-side.

The Position Property

The position property is used to specify the positioning of an element. It can take on several different values, each of which affects the position of the element in different ways.

Here are a few common values of the position property:

• static: The default value, which positions the element according to the normal flow of the document.
• relative: Positions the element relative to its normal position in the document.
• absolute: Positions the element relative to its nearest positioned ancestor (if any), or to the initial containing block if no ancestor is positioned.
• fixed: Positions the element relative to the initial containing block, and keeps it fixed in place even when the page is scrolled.

Best Practices for Using Display, Float, and Position

Here are a few best practices to keep in mind when using display, float, and position in your web design:

• Use clear and descriptive names: Use clear and descriptive names for your CSS properties to make your code easier to understand.
• Use appropriate values: Use appropriate values for your properties to ensure that your elements are positioned correctly.
• Test your layouts in different browsers: Make sure to test your layouts in different browsers to ensure that they display correctly.

Examples of Using Display, Float, and Position

Here are a few examples of how you might use display, float, and position in your web design:

• Set an element to display as a block:

div {
  display: block;
}

• Set an element to display as an inline-block:

div {
  display: inline-block;
}

• Float an element to the left:

div {
  float: left;
}

• Position an element absolutely:

div {
  position: absolute;
}

Conclusion

The display, float, and position properties are useful for controlling the layout of your web pages. By understanding how they work and using them appropriately, you can create various types of layouts and position your elements with ease. Just be sure to use clear and descriptive names, appropriate values, and test your layouts in different browsers to keep your code clean and maintainable.

Exercises

To review these concepts, we will go through a series of exercises designed to test your understanding and apply what you have learned.

div {
  display: inline;
}

div {
  float: right;
}

div {
  position: fixed;
}