CSS Grid vs Flexbox: When to Use Which (with Playgrounds)

The eternal CSS question: Grid or Flexbox?

Use Flexbox When:

• Content flows in ONE direction (row or column)
• Items need to grow/shrink dynamically
• You need vertical centering
• Navigation bars, button groups, card rows

Use Grid When:

• Layout is TWO-dimensional (rows AND columns)
• You need precise placement
• Complex page layouts, dashboards
• Items should align to a grid

Quick Rule

Flexbox = content-first (let items decide size)
Grid = layout-first (you decide the structure)

Try Both

• Flexbox Playground — adjust every flex property visually
• CSS Grid Playground — build grid layouts interactively

Both generate copy-paste CSS.

The Complete CSS Visual Toolkit

• Gradient Generator
• Box Shadow
• Border Radius
• Animation
• Transition
• Filter
• Text Gradient
• Clip Path
• CSS Variables
• Specificity Calculator

Full toolkit: devtools-site-delta.vercel.app