CSS Grid
Grid Container
The grid container is where you define the shape of your grid: how many columns and rows, how wide each is, how big the gaps are, and optionally a map of named areas. Master these container properties and you can express almost any layout compactly.
Creating a Grid Container
display:grid turns an element into a block-level grid; display:inline-grid makes an inline-level one. Its direct children become grid items and are placed into cells automatically unless you position them explicitly.
Container Properties at a Glance
| Property | Purpose |
|---|---|
| grid-template-columns | Defines the number and size of columns |
| grid-template-rows | Defines the number and size of rows |
| gap / row-gap / column-gap | Spacing between tracks |
| grid-template-areas | Names regions to place items visually |
| justify-items | Aligns items horizontally within their cells |
| align-items | Aligns items vertically within their cells |
| justify-content / align-content | Positions the whole grid inside the container |
The fr Unit and repeat()
The fr unit represents a fraction of the free space in the grid. Writing 1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr for four equal columns is repetitive, so repeat() is a shorthand: repeat(4, 1fr) means the same thing.
.grid {
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: repeat(4, 1fr); /* four equal columns */
gap: 16px;
}<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<style>
.grid {
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: repeat(4, 1fr);
gap: 12px;
padding: 12px;
background: #f1f5f9;
font-family: sans-serif;
}
.cell {
background: #8b5cf6; color: #fff; padding: 22px;
border-radius: 6px; text-align: center; font-weight: 700;
}
.cell:nth-child(3n) { background: #f43f5e; }
</style>
</head>
<body>
<div class="grid">
<div class="cell">1</div><div class="cell">2</div>
<div class="cell">3</div><div class="cell">4</div>
<div class="cell">5</div><div class="cell">6</div>
<div class="cell">7</div><div class="cell">8</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>Mixing Fixed and Flexible Tracks
You can combine fixed lengths, fr units and keywords like auto in one definition. A common pattern is a fixed sidebar and a flexible content column: grid-template-columns: 240px 1fr.
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<style>
.app {
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: 200px 1fr; /* fixed + flexible */
gap: 14px;
padding: 14px;
font-family: sans-serif;
}
.side {
background: #0f172a; color: #fff; padding: 24px;
border-radius: 8px; font-weight: 700;
}
.content {
background: #dbeafe; color: #1e3a8a; padding: 24px;
border-radius: 8px; font-weight: 700;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<div class="app">
<div class="side">Sidebar 200px</div>
<div class="content">Content 1fr (takes the rest)</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>repeat(auto-fit, minmax(180px, 1fr)) creates a fully responsive grid that fits as many 180px+ columns as will fit, then stretches them — no media queries needed.
Named Grid Template Areas
grid-template-areas lets you draw your layout as ASCII art. You name regions in the container and then assign each item a grid-area name. It makes complex page layouts remarkably readable.
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<style>
.page {
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: 160px 1fr;
grid-template-rows: auto 1fr auto;
grid-template-areas:
"header header"
"nav main"
"footer footer";
gap: 10px;
height: 320px;
padding: 10px;
font-family: sans-serif;
}
.page > div {
color: #fff; display: flex; align-items: center;
justify-content: center; border-radius: 6px; font-weight: 700;
}
.header { grid-area: header; background: #6366f1; }
.nav { grid-area: nav; background: #14b8a6; }
.main { grid-area: main; background: #f59e0b; }
.footer { grid-area: footer; background: #ec4899; }
</style>
</head>
<body>
<div class="page">
<div class="header">Header</div>
<div class="nav">Nav</div>
<div class="main">Main</div>
<div class="footer">Footer</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>Each row of grid-template-areas is a quoted string. Every row must have the same number of columns, and a name repeated across adjacent cells makes that item span them.
Key Points
- display:grid creates the container; template properties define its tracks.
- The fr unit distributes free space; repeat(n, size) avoids repetition.
- Mix fixed lengths and fr, e.g. 240px 1fr for a sidebar layout.
- repeat(auto-fit, minmax(...)) builds responsive grids without media queries.
- grid-template-areas maps a layout visually using named regions.