CSS Flexbox Layout for Beginners

CSS Flexbox is a layout method for arranging items in a row or column. It is useful for navigation bars, button groups and aligning content.

Make a flex container

Apply display: flex to the parent element. Its direct children become flex items.

.toolbar {
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: space-between;
  gap: 1rem;
}

Choose the main axis

Flexbox lays items out in a row by default. Set flex-direction: column to stack them vertically. The main axis follows this direction, while the cross axis runs perpendicular to it.

.menu {
  display: flex;
  flex-direction: column;
  gap: 0.5rem;
}

Align and wrap items

Use justify-content to distribute items along the main axis and align-items to align them across the cross axis. Add flex-wrap: wrap when items should move onto another line on a narrow screen.