Bootstrap Grid CSS Tutorial and Guide

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Posted Nov 11, 2024

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Bootstrap Grid CSS is a powerful tool for creating responsive and adaptable layouts. It's based on a 12-column grid system.

To start building with Bootstrap Grid CSS, you need to understand the basic structure. The grid system is divided into rows and columns, with a total of 12 columns available.

Each column can be customized to fit your needs, and there are several classes to choose from. For example, the .col-md-4 class will take up four columns on medium-sized screens and above.

By using these classes, you can create complex layouts with ease.

Bootstrap Grid CSS Basics

To create a layout with Bootstrap, start by creating a container, a row, and then add the desired number of columns with classes like .col-*-*.

A container is a must-have in Bootstrap, and you can choose between .container for a responsive pixel width or .container-fluid for width: 100% across all viewport and device sizes.

The grid system in Bootstrap is built with flexbox and is fully responsive, making it perfect for creating layouts that adapt to different screen sizes.

Credit: youtube.com, Bootstrap Grid System Tutorial | Bootstrap 5

Containers center and horizontally pad your content, and you can use .container or .container-fluid for this purpose.

Rows are wrappers for columns, and each column has horizontal padding (called a gutter) for controlling the space between them.

To make the grid responsive, there are five grid breakpoints in Bootstrap: all breakpoints (extra small), small, medium, large, and extra large.

Grid breakpoints are based on minimum width media queries, meaning they apply to that one breakpoint and all those above it.

Column classes indicate the number of columns you'd like to use out of the possible 12 per row, and you can use classes like .col-4 to create three equal-width columns.

Column widths are set in percentages, so they're always fluid and sized relative to their parent element.

Here are the basic Bootstrap grid CSS classes you need to know:

By using these basic classes, you can create a solid foundation for your Bootstrap grid layouts and start building responsive designs.

Grid System Components

Credit: youtube.com, Bootstrap For Beginners | Grid system - 2024

Grid System Components are the backbone of Bootstrap's layout system, and they're surprisingly easy to use. You can create a responsive grid system that scales up to 12 columns as the device or viewport size increases.

To get started, you'll need to wrap your rows in a .container (fixed-width) or .container-fluid (full-width) for proper alignment and padding. This is a must-have for creating a grid layout.

Predefined classes like .row and .col-sm-4 are available for quickly making grid layouts, and they're incredibly useful for creating horizontal groups of columns. You can use these classes to create a variety of layouts, from simple to complex.

Columns create gutters (gaps between column content) via padding, and that padding is offset in rows for the first and last column via negative margin on .rows. This is what gives your grid layout its nice, clean look.

To create a grid layout, simply specify the number of 12 available columns you wish to span. For example, three equal columns would use three .col-sm-4 classes. This is where the magic happens, and your grid layout starts to take shape.

Credit: youtube.com, Learn CSS Grid - A 13 Minute Deep Dive

Here are some key rules to keep in mind when working with Bootstrap's grid system:

  • Rows must be placed within a .container or .container-fluid
  • Use rows to create horizontal groups of columns
  • Content should be placed within columns, and only columns may be immediate children of rows
  • Predefined classes like .row and .col-sm-4 are available for quickly making grid layouts
  • Columns create gutters via padding, offset in rows for the first and last column via negative margin on .rows
  • Column widths are in percentage, so they are always fluid and sized relative to their parent element

Grid System Options

You can mix and match different classes for each grid tier to create a unique layout. This allows you to customize the number of columns in each tier.

To customize the number of grid tiers, you can update the $grid-breakpoints and $container-max-widths variables. For example, you can change them to four grid tiers by setting the values to something like this:

Make sure to save your changes and recompile the Sass variables to output a new set of predefined grid classes.

Equal

Equal-width columns can be achieved by adding unit-less classes for each breakpoint, making every column the same width across all devices and viewports.

You can apply these classes to every device and viewport, from xs to xxl, which means your layouts will be consistent across various screen sizes.

To create equal-width columns that span multiple rows, insert a .w-100 where you want the columns to break to a new line.

Mixing .w-100 with responsive display utilities will make the breaks responsive, allowing your layouts to adapt to different screen sizes.

For example, you can create two grid layouts that apply to every device and viewport, from xs to xl, with every column being the same width.

Mix and Match

Credit: youtube.com, Match Your Modular Grid to your and Baseline!

You can mix and match different classes for each tier as needed to create a unique grid system.

Using a combination of different classes for each tier allows for more flexibility in designing your grid system. This is especially useful when you don't want your columns to simply stack in some grid tiers.

You can use a combination of different props for each tier as needed, but this is not mentioned in the article section examples.

To achieve a custom grid system, you can update the $grid-breakpoints and $container-max-widths to change the number of grid tiers. For example, you can update them to have just four grid tiers.

Make sure to set grid values in pixels (px) when making changes to the Sass variables or maps. This will ensure that your grid system works as expected.

Gutters

Gutters are an essential part of a grid system, and they can be customized to fit your needs.

Credit: youtube.com, What are Grids in Web Design for Beginners - columns and gutters

The width of the gutters can be modified using the $grid-gutter-width variable, which allows for breakpoint-specific widths that are divided evenly across padding-left and padding-right.

You can also use this variable to create different gutter widths for different screen sizes, giving you more flexibility in your design.

By adjusting the gutter width, you can create a more balanced and visually appealing layout that suits your content.

The number of grid columns is also related to gutter width, as it affects the overall width of the grid.

However, the gutter width is not directly tied to the number of grid columns, so you can adjust one without affecting the other.

Order

Ordering columns is a breeze with our grid system. You can easily change the order of built-in grid columns using .col-md-push-* and .col-md-pull-* modifier classes.

To control the visual order of your content, use .order-* classes. These classes are responsive, so you can set the order by breakpoint, such as .order-1.order-md-2.

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The .order-first and .order-last classes change the order of an element by applying order: -1 and order: 13, respectively. These classes can also be intermixed with the numbered .order-* classes as needed.

You can set the order of your content using order-* props, which are responsive and support 1 through 12 across all five grid tiers. defaults to an order value of 0.

Fluid Container

A fluid container is a game-changer for your website's layout. It's a container that is always 100% wide, regardless of the viewport size.

You can create a fluid container by using the tag, which is equivalent to the Bootstrap .container-fluid class. For example, turning a fixed-width grid layout into a full-width layout is as simple as changing the outermost .container to .container-fluid.

Fluid containers are perfect for responsive designs, as they adapt to the screen size of the user. They're also great for creating a seamless experience across different devices.

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Here are some key facts about fluid containers:

  • Fluid containers are always 100% wide, regardless of viewport size.
  • They can be created using the tag or the Bootstrap .container-fluid class.
  • Fluid containers are perfect for responsive designs and creating a seamless experience across different devices.

If you're looking to create a full-width layout, consider using a fluid container. It's a simple yet effective way to improve your website's design and user experience.

Grid System Customization

Customizing the grid is a breeze with Bootstrap's built-in Sass variables and maps. You can change the number of tiers to suit your needs.

The predefined grid classes can be completely customized, allowing you to alter the media query dimensions and container widths. This means you have more control over the layout of your website.

To make changes, you'll need to recompile the code, which is a straightforward process. Just update the variables and maps, and you're good to go.

In some cases, you may need to add custom widths to inputs and selects, especially within inline forms. This is because the default width of 100% can cause issues with multiple controls on the same line.

By customizing the grid, you can create a layout that perfectly suits your website's needs. Just remember to recompile the code after making changes.

Grid System Layout

Credit: youtube.com, Bootstrap grid system| bootstarp layout |

The grid system in Bootstrap is a responsive and mobile-first layout that scales up to 12 columns as the device or viewport size increases. It includes predefined classes for easy layout options and powerful mixins for generating more semantic layouts.

To create a grid system, you'll need to place rows within a .container or .container-fluid for proper alignment and padding. You can use rows to create horizontal groups of columns, and content should be placed within columns, which can only be immediate children of rows.

Here are the key rules to keep in mind:

  • Rows must be placed within a .container (fixed-width) or .container-fluid (full-width)
  • Use rows to create horizontal groups of columns
  • Content should be placed within columns, and only columns may be immediate children of rows
  • Columns create gutters (gaps between column content) via padding

Auto-Layout

Auto-Layout is a game-changer for creating responsive and mobile-friendly layouts. It's a feature in Bootstrap that allows you to easily create columns that adjust their size based on the screen size.

You can use breakpoint-specific column classes to size your columns without having to specify an explicit number like .col-sm-6. This is especially useful when you want to create a layout that looks great on different devices.

Credit: youtube.com, Auto Layout Cards and Grids

For example, you can use the .col-md-* classes to create a grid system that starts out stacked on mobile devices and tablet devices, before becoming horizontal on desktop devices.

Here are some key things to keep in mind when using auto-layout columns:

  • Use breakpoint-specific column classes for easy column sizing.
  • Don't need to specify an explicit numbered class like .col-sm-6.
  • Column widths are in percentage, so they're always fluid and sized relative to their parent element.

By using auto-layout columns, you can create complex layouts that adapt to different screen sizes and devices, without having to write a lot of custom code. It's a powerful tool that can save you time and make your layouts more responsive.

Example Usage

Bootstrap includes dozens of utility classes for showing, hiding, aligning, and spacing content.

You can use these utility classes to create a two-column layout with a gap between columns, which is a great way to make your website more mobile-friendly and responsive.

To create a two-column layout, you can modify the variables to your own custom values or just use the mixins with their default values. This is shown in Examples 2, 3, and 4, where the default settings are used to create a two-column layout with a gap between.

Credit: youtube.com, How to design AWESOME layouts using grid systems | Grid layout in graphic design | Design grids

Using a single set of .col-md-* grid classes, you can create a basic grid system that starts out stacked on mobile devices and tablet devices before becoming horizontal on desktop devices. This is shown in Example 6, where a single set of .col-md-* grid classes is used to create a basic grid system.

If more than 12 columns are placed within a single row, each group of extra columns will wrap onto a new line, as shown in Example 7.

You can create a basic grid system that starts out stacked and becomes horizontal at the small breakpoint (sm) using a single set of .col-sm-* classes, as shown in Examples 8 and 9.

Grid System Responsive Design

Bootstrap's grid system is a responsive, mobile-first fluid grid that scales up to 12 columns as the device or viewport size increases. It's a game-changer for creating flexible and adaptable layouts.

To create a grid layout, you need to place rows within a .container (fixed-width) or .container-fluid (full-width) for proper alignment and padding. This is a crucial step to ensure your layout looks great across different devices.

Credit: youtube.com, Bootstrap Grid System Tutorial | Bootstrap 5

The grid system has some simple rules to follow: rows must contain columns, columns must be placed within rows, and content should be placed within columns. It's a straightforward approach that makes building layouts a breeze.

You can use predefined classes like .row and .col-sm-4 to quickly make grid layouts. For example, three equal columns would use three .col-sm-4 classes. This is a great way to get started with building your layout.

Grid columns are created by specifying the number of 12 available columns you wish to span. This means you can easily create layouts with multiple columns that adapt to different screen sizes.

Here are the available grid classes for different breakpoints:

You can use these classes to create layouts that adapt to different screen sizes. For example, you can use .col-xs-4 and .col-md-8 to create a layout that has four columns on extra small screens and eight columns on medium screens.

By following these simple rules and using the available grid classes, you can create responsive and adaptable layouts that look great on any device.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to make a grid in Bootstrap?

To create a grid in Bootstrap, start with a container and row, then add columns with .col-*-* classes that sum up to 12. This basic structure allows you to build a flexible and responsive layout.

How to enable CSS grid Bootstrap?

To enable CSS grid in Bootstrap, set `$enable-grid-classes: false` and `$enable-cssgrid: true` in your Sass files, then recompile. This opt-in approach allows you to customize your grid settings.

Is CSS grid better than Bootstrap?

CSS grid offers more control and flexibility for complex layouts, while Bootstrap excels at quickly creating responsive designs with many components and utilities. The choice between them depends on your specific design needs and goals.

Sources

  1. flexbox (mozilla.org)
  2. Nicolas Gallagher (twitter.com)
  3. the micro clearfix (nicolasgallagher.com)
  4. GitHub (github.com)
  5. flexbox (mozilla.org)
  6. bugs around flexbox (github.com)
  7. Bootstrap Grid System (w3schools.com)
  8. Twitter (twitter.com)
  9. GitHub (github.com)
  10. bugs around flexbox (github.com)

Ann Predovic

Lead Writer

Ann Predovic is a seasoned writer with a passion for crafting informative and engaging content. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for research, she has established herself as a go-to expert in various fields, including technology and software. Her writing career has taken her down a path of exploring complex topics, making them accessible to a broad audience.

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