Mastering CSS Grid: Dynamically Filling Columns Based on Percentage Width

Learn how to effectively use CSS Grid to create dynamic layouts with percentage-width columns. Discover an easy solution and practical examples in this guide!
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/71470874/ asked by the user 'Anthony Russo' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/1461158/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/71471233/ provided by the user 'Paulie_D' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/2802040/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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Mastering CSS Grid: Dynamically Filling Columns Based on Percentage Width

Creating responsive layouts is crucial in web development, and CSS Grid offers many powerful tools to help achieve that. One common scenario developers face is the need to create a grid layout with two columns where one has a fixed percentage width while the other column dynamically fills the remaining space. Many might wonder, is it possible to do this with CSS Grid? The answer is a resounding yes! In this guide, we will walk you through how to set this up step-by-step.

Understanding the Problem

When using CSS Grid, there might be some confusion about how to structure columns such that one has a fixed width percentage and the other one automatically adjusts based on the remaining space. Unlike Flexbox, CSS Grid behaves differently, and it can be tricky for those who are more familiar with the latter.

Example Structure

Imagine you have the following basic structure:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

In this example, we want the .content div to occupy 70% of the width of the parent, while the .sidebar adjusts accordingly (i.e., takes up the rest of the space).

The Solution

Here’s how to achieve a responsive grid layout with a percentage-width column and a flexible column using CSS Grid.

Step 1: Define the CSS Grid

To set your grid, you'll want to use the grid-template-columns property. This property allows you to specify the width of each column in your layout.

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Explanation of the Code

display: grid;: This turns the container (.grid-row) into a grid layout which enables us to define a column structure.

grid-template-columns: 70% 1fr;:

The 70% is the width of the first column.

The 1fr represents one fractional unit of the remaining space. This means that the second column will fill everything left after the first column takes its percentage width.

outline: 1px solid grey;: This CSS rule is optional but useful for visualization; it outlines each grid item so you can see the layout structure clearly during development.

Step 2: Implement Your HTML Structure

Using the grid setup defined in your CSS, your HTML structure remains exactly the same. The CSS will dictate how each element is displayed. Here’s the full code for context:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 3: Test Your Layout

Finally, once you implement the above code, check your layout. Resizing your browser window should show how the .content div retains 70% width while the .sidebar dynamically adjusts to fill the remaining space.

Conclusion

CSS Grid is a powerful layout tool that can simplify the way we handle responsive designs. With just a few lines of code, you can create complex layouts that are both flexible and maintainable. By setting specific widths using percentages and fractional units, you can achieve dynamic layouts that serve your content effectively.

If you've been struggling with percentage-based columns and how they can work in CSS Grid, we hope this guide has provided clarity and encouragement to utilize this modern layout method. Happy coding!