Patterns

CSS Grid System

Building a Grid System

CSS grid systems use grid-template-columns for responsive layouts.

Understanding CSS Grid Layout

The CSS Grid Layout is a two-dimensional layout system for the web. It allows you to create complex layouts using rows and columns without relying on floats and positioning. The grid layout is a powerful tool that enables designers to control the layout of web pages with ease.

Defining a Grid Container

To begin using CSS Grid, you must first define a grid container. This is done by setting the display property to grid on a parent element. Once an element is defined as a grid container, its direct children become grid items.

In the example above, the .grid-container is the parent element, and the .grid-item elements are its children, which will be arranged in the grid layout.

Using Grid Template Columns

The grid-template-columns property defines the number of columns in your grid and their width. You can specify the width of each column using length units, percentages, or the fr unit, which stands for 'fraction of the available space'.

In the above CSS, the grid container has three columns. The first and third columns each take up 1 fraction of the available space, while the second column takes up 2 fractions.

Creating Responsive Layouts

CSS Grid makes it easy to create responsive layouts. By using media queries, you can adjust the grid layout based on the screen size. This ensures that your web page looks great on all devices.

In this example, when the screen width is 600 pixels or less, the grid will reflow to a single column layout, making it more suitable for smaller screens.

Tips for Using CSS Grid

  • Experiment with Auto-fill and Auto-fit: These properties help you automatically fill or fit columns within a container, making your layouts more flexible.
  • Combine with Flexbox: For complex layouts, consider using both CSS Grid and Flexbox. Use Grid for the main layout and Flexbox for arranging items within a grid cell.
  • Use Grid Gaps: The grid-gap property allows you to create space between grid items without needing to use margins.