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Joy Shaheb
Joy Shaheb

Posted on • Updated on • Originally published at freecodecamp.org

Complete Flexbox Tutorial w/ Cheat Sheet

Let's refresh Our CSS Flexbox Memory. Here's a Tutorial & Cheat Sheet of everything you can do with CSS flexbox. Let's Go πŸŽ–οΈ

The original Article at FreeCodeCamp

Table of Contents --

You can watch this tutorial on YouTube as well if you like:

FlexBox Architecture

So how does Flexbox architecture work? The flex-items [Contents] are distributed along the Main Axis and Cross Axis. And, depending on the flex-direction property, the layout position changes between rows and columns.

Flex Box model Architecture

FlexBox Chart --

This chart contains every possible property and value you can use when using flexbox. You can reference it while doing the project and experiment with different values.

Flex Box property Value Chart

How to Set Up the Project

Alt Text

For this project, you need to know little bit of HTML, CSS, and how to work with VS code. Follow along with me ->

  1. Create a folder named "Project-1" & Open VS Code
  2. Create index.html & style.css files
  3. Install Live Server & Run Live Server.

Or, you can just open Codepen & start coding.

At the end of this tutorial, you can make website layouts more accurately.

HTML

In HTML, write these lines of code inside the body tag πŸ‘‡

<div class="container">
    <div class="box-1"> A </div>
    <div class="box-2"> B </div>
    <div class="box-3"> C </div>
</div>
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CSS

target the .container class & all the boxes. Then style the boxes so that all of them looks similar. Like this πŸ‘‡

Note : don't forget to put the height of the container.

.container{
   height : 100vh;
}

[class ^="box-"]{
    width: 140px;
    height: 140px;
    background-color: skyblue;
    border: 2px solid black;

// To view the letter better
    font-size: 65px;
}
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But Wait....

Alt Text

Before starting, you need to understand the relationship between parent & child classes.

Alt Text

Flexbox works on the parent class, not on the children classes.

Here, the .container class is the parent & our .box-* classes are our children.

so, apply the display: flex inside .container class. And place the letters at the center of the box like this ->

.container{
    display : flex;
    height : 100vh;

// To place some gap between boxes
    gap : 25px;
}
[class ^="box-"]{
// Code from previous step are here

// Placing text at center 
    display : flex;
    justify-content : center;
    align-items : center;
}
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And.... we're all set! Let's start coding. 😊

Alt Text

flex-direction

The Direction/Orientation in which flex-items are distributed inside flex-container.

Flex Direction

Flex Direction

To recreate these results, Let's write on CSS These lines ->

Note : We'll write inside .container class

.container{
//code from setup stage are here

// Change the value  πŸ‘‡ here to see results
    flex-direction : row;
}
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justify-content

This property arranges flex-items along the MAIN AXIS inside the flex-container

justify content

justify content

To recreate these results, Write on CSS These lines ->

.container{
//code from setup stage are here

//  Change the value  πŸ‘‡ here to see results
    justify-content: flex-start;
}
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align-content

This property arranges flex-items along the CROSS AXIS inside the flex-container. This is similar to justify-content

align content

align content

Please note that, without the flex-wrap property, this property doesn't work, here's the demo ->

.container{

//  Change the value  πŸ‘‡ here to see results
    align-content: center;

// without this line, align-content won't work
    flex-wrap: wrap;
}
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align-items

This property distributes Flex-items along the Cross Axis

align items

To recreate these results, Let's write on CSS ->

.container{
//code from setup stage are here

// Change the value πŸ‘‡ here to see results
    align-items: flex-end;
}
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align-self

This property works on the children classes. It positions the selected item along the Cross Axis

align self

In total we have 6 values

  • flex-start
  • flex-end
  • center
  • baseline
  • stretch
  • auto

To recreate the results, select any .box-* & write

.box-2{
// Change the value πŸ‘‡ here to see results
     align-self : center;
}
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flex - grow | shrink | wrap | basis

The properties that we're discussing right now will work when we resize the window. Let's dive right in.

  • flex-grow : grows the size of a flex-item based on width of the flex-container.
  • flex-shrink : The ability for a flex item to shrink based on width of the flex-container. Opposite of flex-grow.

flex grow flex shrink flex wrap

To achieve these results, follow me ->

Please Note : flex-grow & flex-shrink works on children classes. So, we will target all our boxes ->

.box-1{
    flex-grow: 1;
}
.box-2{
    flex-grow: 5;
}
.box-1{
    flex-grow: 1;
}
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Resize the window & see the results.

To duplicate result of flex-shrink, write ->

Please note : Delete the flex-wrap property, otherwise it won't work.

.box-1{
    flex-shrink: 1;
}
.box-2{
    flex-shrink: 5;
}
.box-1{
    flex-shrink: 1;
}
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Now, Resize the window & see the results.

  • flex-wrap : Amount of Flex-item you want in a line/row.

flex wrap flex grow flex shrink

This works on the .container parent class. So, write ->

.container{
    //other codes are here 

// Change value πŸ‘‡ here to see results
    flex-wrap : wrap;
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  • flex-basis : This is similar to adding width to a flex-item, but only more flexible. flex-basis: 10em; it will set the initial size of a flex-item to 10em. Its final size will be based on available space, flex-grow, and flex-shrink.

Short Hands

Alt Text

  • flex : It is a shorthand to flex-grow, flex-shrink and flex-basis combined.

flex flex basis

You can try this by writing ->

Please Note : It only works on the children classes

.box-2{
    flex : 2 1 30em;
}
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  • flex-flow : Short hand to flex-direction & flex-wrap

Alt Text

You can try this by writing ->

Please Note : It only works on the parent class

.container{
    flex-flow : row wrap;
}
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place-content

This is the shorthand of justify-content & align-content

Alt Text

Let's duplicate the results

Note : It works on the parent class

.container{
    place-content : center flex-end;
}
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Credits

Kitty Avatars

Credits

Read Next :

Conclusion

Here's Your Medal For reading till the end ❀️

Suggestions & Criticisms Are Highly Appreciated ❀️

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Alt Text

Oldest comments (82)

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cadams profile image
Chad Adams • Edited

This tool is awesome. Makes flexbox easy to understand. I use it alot.
demos.scotch.io/visual-guide-to-cs...

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joyshaheb profile image
Joy Shaheb

A legend made this software, thank you for sharing this πŸ…πŸ™

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kyril96340413 profile image
Kyril

Thanks

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Sloan, the sloth mascot
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Sloan, the sloth mascot
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ronaldohoch profile image
Ronaldo Hoch

Niiiice!
Why not this is a PWA?

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jamesthomson profile image
James Thomson
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jamesthomson profile image
James Thomson

This is also good for beginners to see how common components can be structured. flexboxpatterns.com/

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ca969 profile image
ca969

Wow, that's a really good resource. Thank you for sharing.

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joyshaheb profile image
Joy Shaheb

Most welcome ❀️

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Sloan, the sloth mascot
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madza profile image
Madza

nice visuals, may I ask what you used? πŸ‘€

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joyshaheb profile image
Joy Shaheb

I took Images from Flaticon.com
I gave them credits before conclusion part

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madza profile image
Madza

Awesome, thanks! πŸ™β€

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bayyash profile image
Bashar Ayyash

Can you please tell me whats the name of icons pack you used? I am a member at Flaticon, I liked the icons you used.

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Sloan, the sloth mascot
Comment deleted
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joyshaheb profile image
Joy Shaheb

Thank you ❀️

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mbustosp profile image
MatΓ­as Bustos

Really good job! Thank you. It would be amazing if you could do something similar about Grids 😊

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joyshaheb profile image
Joy Shaheb

Thank you for the well wishes. I'll think about Grids in future. Till then, stay tuned ❀️

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kyril96340413 profile image
Kyril

Thank you for sharing this.

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joyshaheb profile image
Joy Shaheb

Most welcome ❀️

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jamesthomson profile image
James Thomson

I've also found this useful for some of those pesky older browser flex bugs. github.com/philipwalton/flexbugs

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davistran86 profile image
davistran86

Very nice article, can you explain more on flex-grow, flex-shrink ?

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joyshaheb profile image
Joy Shaheb

Hello @davistran86 ,
Hopefully in future, I'll post an article/ youtube video explaining the topic in details with some examples, if possible. Till then, stay tuned & take care ❀️

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hardikchopra profile image
Hardik Chopra

Great work 🀩 thank you so much πŸ‘

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joyshaheb profile image
Joy Shaheb

Most welcome ❀️

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polodev profile image
polodev • Edited

I am also from Bangladesh. Feel good that, I am reading our vi brother post. Concise and clear idea on Flexbox. Thanks Joy

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joyshaheb profile image
Joy Shaheb

Thank you soo much for the well wishes bhaiya ❀️

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zayidu profile image
Zayidu A

Thanks!

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joyshaheb profile image
Joy Shaheb

Most welcome ❀️

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florincornea profile image
Cornea Florin

Great effort, thanks Joy, very useful!

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joyshaheb profile image
Joy Shaheb

Most welcome ❀️

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mis0u profile image
MickaΓ«l

Nice article. The little trick if you want to center an object (X and Y) in 2 lines :
display: grid;
place-items: center;

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genocideaon profile image
Pranat • Edited

How to fix width if I create a layout like this comment box, image profile was fixed width and the comment message box has flexible width. Or should not use flex.

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joyshaheb profile image
Joy Shaheb

Most welcome ❀️

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Alfred Dagenais

Wow, very simple to understand with pictures!! 😍 Finally, I'll get all info easily with flexbox! Thank

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joyshaheb profile image
Joy Shaheb

Most welcome ❀️