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CSS Grid vs Flexbox

css layout frontend

The Layout Dilemma

For years, web developers struggled with layout. Floats, tables, and inline-block hacks were the norm. Today, we have two incredible tools: CSS Grid and Flexbox.

Flexbox: One Dimension

Flexbox is designed for laying out items in a single dimension — either a row or a column.

.container {
  display: flex;
  justify-content: space-between;
  align-items: center;
}

CSS Grid: Two Dimensions

Grid is designed for two-dimensional layouts — both rows and columns simultaneously.

.container {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
  gap: 1rem;
}

The Rule of Thumb

  • Flexbox → Content-first, single-axis alignment
  • Grid → Layout-first, two-axis control

When to Combine Both

You can use Grid for the overall page layout and Flexbox for individual components within grid cells.