CSS Grid vs Flexbox: When to Use Each

CSS Grid and Flexbox are both powerful layout tools, but they excel at different tasks. Let's explore when to use each.

Flexbox: One-Dimensional Layouts

Flexbox is perfect for laying out items in a single direction (row or column):

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

Best for:

• Navigation bars
• Button groups
• Card layouts in a single row/column

CSS Grid: Two-Dimensional Layouts

Grid excels at creating complex, two-dimensional layouts:

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

Best for:

• Page layouts
• Image galleries
• Dashboard interfaces

Combining Both

Often, the best approach is to use both:

.page-layout {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: sidebar main;
}
 
.navigation {
  display: flex;
  gap: 1rem;
}

Decision Framework

• Need alignment in one direction? → Use Flexbox
• Need precise control over rows AND columns? → Use Grid
• Building a component? → Probably Flexbox
• Building a page layout? → Probably Grid

Both tools are valuable in modern CSS. Learn both, and use the right tool for each job!