When it comes to modern web layout techniques, CSS Flexbox and CSS Grid are two powerful tools at a developer’s disposal. Both have their strengths and are suited for different kinds of tasks. From my observations, beginners tend to learn just Flexbox and ignore Grid because Flexbox is easier to visualize and understand, which was also the same for me, but eventually, I discovered that I was missing out on a lot in terms of responsiveness and even beauty (surprisingly).
Flexbox, or Flexible Box Layout, is designed for one-dimensional layouts. This means it excels in laying out items in a single direction - either as a row or a column.
When to Use Flexbox:
- Single-Directional Layouts: When you need a simple row or column layout, such as a navigation bar, a footer, or a list of items.
- Alignment Tasks: When you need to align items or distribute space between them dynamically.
- Responsive Design: When creating responsive layouts where items need to adjust their size and position based on the viewport size.
- And lastly this is a hack that has made things easy for many frontend developers, it is the easiest way to centre a div. I remember searching on Google “how to centre a div” on multiple occasions ^_^.
CSS Grid Layout, commonly known as Grid, is designed for two-dimensional layouts. This means it can handle both rows and columns simultaneously, making it ideal for complex layouts.
When to Use Grid:
- Complex Layouts: When dealing with intricate page layouts that require precise control over both rows and columns, such as dashboards, image galleries, or complex forms.
- Page Structure: When defining the overall structure of a page, where you need a grid system to position and align various sections.
- Grid-Based Designs: When working on designs that inherently follow a grid pattern, allowing for a cleaner and more organized layout.
As a beginner frontend developer, try as much as possible to learn Grid alongside Flexbox and do not ignore Grid. Learning them two makes you an overpowered character when it comes to website layout.
