CSS Grid is like a Tetris game, but for web design! You can place items exactly where you want without breaking a sweat. No more struggling with float or margin hacks—just pure grid magic!
In this guide, we’ll cover:
- grid-column & grid-row – Controlling item placement
- grid-area – The shortcut to ultimate control
- align & justify properties – Fine-tuning alignment
Let’s dive in and master CSS Grid item placement!
Grid-Column & Grid-Row: Precise Control Over Items
These properties define where an item starts and ends in the grid.
Example: Placing an Item Across Multiple Columns
.item {
grid-column: 1 / 3; /* Starts at column 1, ends at column 3 */
}
The item stretches across two columns (1 → 3).
No need for extra divs or ugly positioning tricks.
Example: Controlling Rows
.item {
grid-row: 2 / 4; /* Starts at row 2, ends at row 4 */
}
Why use grid-column/grid-row?
- Directly control the placement of grid items.
- No more unpredictable layouts.
- Works great with
grid-template-areas(more on that next!).
Grid-Area: The Shortcut to Custom Layouts!
If you want a super clean way to arrange grid items, use grid-area!
Example: Naming Grid Areas
.container {
display: grid;
grid-template-areas:
"header header"
"sidebar content"
"footer footer";
}
.header {
grid-area: header;
}
.sidebar {
grid-area: sidebar;
}
.content {
grid-area: content;
}
.footer {
grid-area: footer;
}
What happens?
- You assign names to grid sections (
header,sidebar, etc.). - Just place items using
grid-area, no complex row/column calculations! - Super useful for responsive layouts!
Aligning & Justifying Items: The Finishing Touch!
Sometimes, you need to fine-tune an item’s placement inside its grid cell. That’s where align and justify properties come in!
Aligning Items Vertically (align-self)
.item {
align-self: center; /* Aligns item vertically in its grid cell */
}
Options: start, center, end, stretch.
Aligning Items Horizontally (justify-self)
.item {
justify-self: end; /* Moves item to the right within its cell */
}
Options: start, center, end, stretch.
Want to align all grid items at once? Use align-items and justify-items on the container instead!
.container {
align-items: center; /* Aligns all items vertically */
justify-items: center; /* Aligns all items horizontally */
}
Why use these properties?
- Fine-tune positioning inside grid cells.
- No more awkward
marginorpaddinghacks! - Perfect for centering content effortlessly.
Conclusion: You’re Now a Grid Placement Master!
- grid-column & grid-row → Precise item placement.
- grid-area → Super clean, named layouts.
- align & justify → Perfect alignment control.
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