CSS Grid vs Flexbox

CSS Grid and Flexbox are powerful layout tools. But when should you use each? Let’s explore their strengths and use cases.

The Key Difference

• Flexbox: One-dimensional layouts (row OR column)
• Grid: Two-dimensional layouts (rows AND columns)

Flexbox: Best For

1. Navigation Bars

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

2. Card Layouts

.card-container {
  display: flex;
  flex-wrap: wrap;
  gap: 1rem;
}

3. Centering Content

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

Grid: Best For

1. Page Layouts

.page {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-areas:
    "header header"
    "sidebar main"
    "footer footer";
}

2. Gallery Layouts

.gallery {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fit, minmax(300px, 1fr));
  gap: 1rem;
}

3. Complex Forms

.form {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: max-content 1fr;
  gap: 1rem;
}

Can They Work Together?

Absolutely! Use Grid for the overall layout and Flexbox for component details.

/* Grid for page structure */
.app {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-rows: auto 1fr auto;
}

/* Flexbox for header content */
.header {
  display: flex;
  justify-content: space-between;
  align-items: center;
}

Quick Decision Guide

Use Flexbox when:

• Content flows in one direction
• You need equal height columns
• You want to align items along one axis

Use Grid when:

• You need precise control over rows AND columns
• Creating complex layouts
• Working with overlapping elements

Browser Support

Both have excellent support in modern browsers. For older browsers:

• Flexbox: IE11 with prefixes
• Grid: No IE11 support

Conclusion

Don’t think of Grid vs Flexbox as competitors. They’re complementary tools in your CSS toolkit. Master both and use them where they excel!