Modern Ways to Center an Element with CSS

CSS has come a long way on how to center 🎯 an html element. I can still remember some ways using tables and floats. Not pretty but it works during that time. 😃😎 Fast-forward, it is easy and can be done with few lines of code.

Feel free to bookmark 🔖 even if you don't need this for now. You may need to refresh/review down the road when it is time for you to look for a new role.

CSS translate/transform

// maybe best to support old browser
.container {
    position: relative;
}

.child {
    position: absolute;
    top: 50%;
    left: 50%;
    transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
}

CSS flexbox (3-liner code)

https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Flexbox

// most popular because of current browser support
.container {
  display: flex;
  justify-content: center;
  align-items: center;
}

CSS grid (2-liner code)

https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/CSS_layout/Grids

// the future
.container {
  display: grid;
  place-items: center;
}

In case you want to play and see this code in action:
Codepen: https://codepen.io/angelo_jin/pen/qBmwyzr

If you want a video version:

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Comments

[Victor Ocnarescu]

Nice one! I did not know the 2-liner code using css grid. Will definitely use this one from now on.

[Let's Code]

yeah, especially if you have no problem with its current browser support. 👍

i currently use css grid at the moment at work.