Mastering Centering with CSS place-items Property: A Comprehensive Guide
Matt Miller
Posted on February 6, 2024
Introduction:
The place-items
property in CSS offers a powerful shorthand for aligning and justifying content within grid and flexbox layouts. By combining the functionalities of align-items
and justify-items
, place-items
simplifies the process of achieving both horizontal and vertical centering. In this guide, we'll explore the syntax, usage, and accepted values of the place-items
property, uncovering its versatility and usefulness in various layout contexts.
Understanding place-items Property:
The place-items
property aligns and justifies content within a grid or flexbox container, offering a convenient shorthand for centering elements both vertically and horizontally.
Syntax:
.item {
display: grid; /* or flex */
place-items: <align-items> <justify-items>;
}
Common Usage:
Horizontal and Vertical Centering with Grid:
.center-inside-of-me {
display: grid;
place-items: center;
}
Behavior and Accepted Values:
Dual Values:
- The first value represents
align-items
, aligning content along the vertical (column) axis. - The second value represents
justify-items
, aligning content along the horizontal (row) axis.
Example:
.item {
display: grid;
place-items: start center; /* Align items to the start vertically, and center horizontally */
}
Single Value:
- If only one value is provided, it sets both
align-items
andjustify-items
to the same value.
Example:
.item {
display: grid;
place-items: start; /* Align items to the start both vertically and horizontally */
}
Contextual Behavior:
- The behavior of
place-items
varies based on the context it is used in, such as grid or flexbox layouts. - Certain values may only apply to flexbox or grid layouts, and some may affect
align-items
orjustify-items
specifically.
Conclusion:
The place-items
property offers a convenient and versatile way to align and justify content within grid and flexbox layouts. By understanding its syntax, behavior, and accepted values, developers can leverage place-items
to streamline centering operations and achieve consistent and visually pleasing layouts across various design contexts.
Posted on February 6, 2024
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