CSS Grid vs Flexbox: When to Use Which

Both CSS Grid and Flexbox are powerful layout systems, but they serve different purposes. Understanding when to use each one will make you a more effective frontend developer.

The Fundamental Difference

• Flexbox is one-dimensional (either row or column)
• CSS Grid is two-dimensional (rows and columns simultaneously)

When to Use Flexbox

1. Navigation Bars

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

2. Centering Content

.center {
display: flex;
justify-content: center;
align-items: center;
height: 100vh;
}

3. Equal Height Cards

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

.card { flex: 1; /* Equal width */ } ```

When to Use CSS Grid

1. Page Layouts

.page-layout {
display: grid;
grid-template-areas:
"header header header"
"sidebar main aside"
"footer footer footer";
grid-template-rows: auto 1fr auto;
grid-template-columns: 200px 1fr 200px;
}

2. Card Grids

.card-grid {
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fit, minmax(300px, 1fr));
gap: 2rem;
}

3. Complex Forms

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

.full-width { grid-column: 1 / -1; } ```

Comparison Table

Combining Both

You don't have to choose one or the other! They work great together:

css
.page {
display: grid;
grid-template-rows: auto 1fr auto;
}

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

.main { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 3fr; gap: 2rem; }

.card { display: flex; flex-direction: column; } ```

Decision Framework

Browser Support

Both Flexbox and CSS Grid have excellent browser support in modern browsers. However:

• Flexbox: Supported in all browsers (with prefixes for older versions)
• CSS Grid: Supported in all modern browsers (IE 11 has partial support)

Conclusion

Both CSS Grid and Flexbox are essential tools in modern web development. Understanding their strengths and use cases will help you create better, more maintainable layouts. Remember: it's not about choosing one over the other, but about using the right tool for the job. ```