Which Layout to Choose CSS Grid vs Flexbox

In order to meet the increasing demands of website design, developers have developed new methods and languages. With its wide range of functions, CSS has become one of the most popular web development languages in recent times.

However, CSS offers different formats to edit content, and the debate is about which one is better or more appropriate. In this blog, we will do comparisons of Grid vs Flexbox.

Although both properties have some similarities and can sometimes have interrelated functions, Both Grid vs Flexbox. and are designed to serve different purposes. We will emphasize the major differences that will enable developers to make informed choices while deciding on a suitable project.

Grid vs Flexbox: The Essence

To better understand the issue of CSS Grid vs Flexbox, it is important that we first look at the context of both Grid and Flexbox.

Also known as the ‘Flexible Box,’ the Flexbox architecture provides a way to adjust the layout of the container to fit any display shape or size.

On the other hand, CSS Grid thrives on its ability to split a page into multiple categories. Grid can also determine the relationship between their size, position, and horizontal.

Flexbox vs CSS Grid  - Two Dimensional vs One Dimensional

Their ability to deal with rows and columns is one of the most important and important differences when considering the design of CSS Grid vs Flexbox.

The Flexbox is a ‘one-dimensional layout’ and the Grid is a ‘two-dimensional layout.’ In other words, Flexbox can only arrange objects horizontally (rows) or vertically (columns). Thus, the developer should have a clear idea of whether they want a line-based or column-based structure.

Although, some experts have taken the opposite approach to the 1Dimensional vs 2Dimensional approach of the Flexbox vs Grid Layout debate and suggested that the Grid could work better even in unilateral planning. In addition, with the advent of Bootstrap 4, the basic Flexbox principles are also being used to create 2Dimensional structures.

CSS vs Flexbox Grid - Content Layer vs Content Flow

Allows precision placement of items on the grid (at the end of the displayed web page) and gives the developer greater control. CSS grid treats everything as a grid cell whose location is determined by the crossing of both vertical and horizontal axes. 

With features such as ‘grid template lines,’ ‘fractions units,’ and grid template columns, engineers can accurately predict and control behavior ’in most viewing ports. Such a thing is not possible with a Flexbox.

While some ‘tricks’ enable Flexbox users to achieve the same results using the ‘calc ()’ function, it rather harms the essence and purpose of this structure.

In contrast to content placement, Flexbox is more focused on content flow. In other words, while Grid is a ‘pre-planning approach to web development, Flexbox is ‘content first.’ The size of the variables is determined and depends on their internal content. These items may increase or decrease in order to accommodate local content.

Considering the above-mentioned structures, the CSS Grid is best suited for websites that include broken, uneven, or scattered structures while Flexbox is well suited for centralizing objects, creating responsive menus, and so on.

Grid vs Flexbox 2019 - Browser Compatibility

In the pursuit of the CSS Grid vs Flexbox controversy, it is not enough to understand the technical differences between the two. The question of browser interaction is valid, especially if the developer has to decide which method is most appropriate.

Currently, most major browsers support Flexbox designs. The list includes Google Chrome, other versions of Opera, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Edge. However, CSS Grid does not work with certain browsers such as Opera Mini, as well as other versions of Google Chrome, iOS Safari, and Blackberry Browser.

CSS vs Flexbox Grid: Conclusion

Before we conclude, let us summarize an important difference between two structures - CSS Grid vs Flexbox.

The Flexbox has one side while the Grid has two sides

A Flexbox focuses on content flow and on the other hand the Grid focuses on content placement

Flexbox is the first content mode while the Grid is the first format

Now, to answer the last question, which option would you prefer? Here, the honest answer would be that it is not about one way incorporating another. Instead, in order to be able to decide, developers must first analyze the goal and the outcome they are aiming to achieve. Only then will they be able to choose one over the other, based on the principles and differences presented in this blog.

In addition, engineers and other experts in the field often propose a combination of methods that use both Grid vs Flexbox to gain greater control over objects and their structure. For example, one can upgrade an entire structure using the CSS Grid while managing the elements of each grid using Flexbox. However, this method tends to make coding very difficult and requires very good expertise on the part of the developer.