CSS Grid vs Flexbox: When to Use Each

CSS Grid and Flexbox are two powerful layout systems in CSS, but they serve different purposes and work best in different scenarios.

CSS Grid

CSS Grid is a two-dimensional layout system designed for creating complex grid-based layouts.

Key Features:

• Two-dimensional: Controls both rows and columns
• Grid lines: Precise control over grid lines and areas
• Explicit placement: Items can be placed in specific grid areas
• Responsive: Built-in responsive design capabilities

Best Use Cases:

• Page layouts
• Dashboard designs
• Card layouts with varying sizes
• Complex form layouts

Example:

.container {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
  grid-template-rows: auto;
  gap: 20px;
}

.item {
  grid-column: span 2;
  grid-row: 1 / 3;
}

CSS Flexbox

Flexbox is a one-dimensional layout system designed for distributing space along a single axis.

Key Features:

• One-dimensional: Controls either rows OR columns
• Flexible sizing: Items can grow and shrink
• Alignment: Easy alignment and distribution
• Order: Items can be reordered with CSS

Best Use Cases:

• Navigation menus
• Form controls
• Button groups
• Content alignment

Example:

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

.item {
  flex: 1;
  margin: 10px;
}

When to Use Grid

Choose Grid when:

• You need both row and column control
• Creating complex layouts
• Items need to span multiple rows/columns
• Building page-level layouts
• Creating card layouts with varying sizes

When to Use Flexbox

Choose Flexbox when:

• Working with a single row or column
• Aligning items along one axis
• Creating navigation menus
• Building form layouts
• Distributing space evenly

Combining Both

You can use Grid and Flexbox together:

.container {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
  gap: 20px;
}

.card {
  display: flex;
  flex-direction: column;
  justify-content: space-between;
}

Browser Support

Both Grid and Flexbox have excellent browser support:

• Flexbox: IE 10+
• Grid: IE 11+ (with prefixes)

Performance Considerations

• Grid: Slightly more complex, but very efficient for complex layouts
• Flexbox: Lightweight and fast for simple layouts

Conclusion

Choose the right tool for the job:

• Use Grid for complex, two-dimensional layouts
• Use Flexbox for simple, one-dimensional layouts
• Combine both for optimal results

Remember: Grid is for layout, Flexbox is for alignment!