CSS Grid vs Flexbox: When to Use Which Layout System

CSS Grid vs Flexbox: The Ultimate Guide

Choosing between CSS Grid and Flexbox can be confusing. Let's break it down!

Flexbox: One-Dimensional Layout

Flexbox is perfect for arranging items in a single row or column:

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

Best for:

• Navigation bars
• Button groups
• Centering content

CSS Grid: Two-Dimensional Layout

Grid excels at complex layouts with rows and columns:

.grid-container {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: 1fr 2fr 1fr;
  grid-gap: 20px;
}

Best for:

• Page layouts
• Card grids
• Complex forms

Decision Matrix

Use Case	Flexbox	Grid
1D Layout	✅	❌
2D Layout	❌	✅
Component Layout	✅	❌
Page Layout	❌	✅

Conclusion

Use Flexbox for components, Grid for layouts. Often, you'll use both together!