Elizabeth Mosley

Both CSS Grid and Flexbox are powerful layout systems, but they excel in different scenarios. Understanding when to use each prevents overcomplication and results in cleaner code.

Flexbox: The One-Dimensional Solution

Flexbox shines when arranging items in a single direction—either rows or columns. It's perfect for:

• Navigation bars
• Card layouts
• Centering content
• Equal-height columns

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

CSS Grid: Two-Dimensional Power

Grid excels at complex, two-dimensional layouts where you need control over both rows and columns simultaneously:

• Page layouts
• Image galleries
• Dashboard interfaces
• Magazine-style designs

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

Can They Work Together?

Absolutely. In fact, combining them often produces the best results. Use Grid for the overall page structure and Flexbox for component internals:

.page {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: 250px 1fr;
}

.sidebar-nav {
  display: flex;
  flex-direction: column;
  gap: 10px;
}

The Decision Framework

Ask yourself:

• Do I need control in one direction? → Flexbox
• Do I need control in both directions? → Grid
• Am I aligning items within a component? → Flexbox
• Am I defining an overall layout structure? → Grid

Neither is "better"—they're complementary tools that solve different problems elegantly.

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