


What are the key differences between inline, block, inline-block, and flex display values?
Jun 20, 2025 am 01:01 AMdisplay
value is cruel because it controls how an element behaves in the layout. The most commonly used display values— inline
, block
, inline-block
, and flex
—each have distinct behaviors that affect spacing, alignment, and structure.
<p> Let's break them down one by one so you can understand when to use each.
Inline Elements: Flow Like Text
<p>display: inline
makes an element behave like a word in a sentence. It doesn't start on a new line and only take up as much width as its content.
- You can't set width or height directly.
- Vertical margins (top/bottom) won't push other elements away.
- Padding and borders do apply but might not behave exactly as with block elements.
<span></span>
, <a></a>
, or <strong></strong>
to sit within a line of text without breaking the flow.
<p> Example:<span>This is inline</span> <span>This is also inline</span><p> These two will appear side by side unless there's not enough space.
Block Elements: Take Full Width
<p>display: block
turns an element into a block box. These elements stack vertically and take up the full available width by default.- They always start on a new line.
- Width and height can be controlled.
- Margins and padding work as expected in all directions.
<div>
, <p>
, <header>
, or anything that should stand alone on a line.<p> Example:<div style="display: block">Block 1</div> <div style="display: block">Block 2</div><p> Each div appears on its own line, stacked vertically.
Inline-Block: Block Features Without Line Breaks
<p>display: inline-block
combines features from both worlds. It allows you to set dimensions and spacing like a block, but it flows inline with surrounding content.- Doesn't start on a new line.
- Respects width, height, margins, and padding.
- Sensitive to vertical alignment (useful for aligning elements side by side with control).
<span style="display: inline-block; width: 100px">Box 1</span> <span style="display: inline-block; width: 100px">Box 2</span><p> Both boxes sit next to each other and respect the width setting.<p> One thing to note: Inline-block elements may have small gaps between them due to whitespace in HTML. To fix this, you can:
- Remove spaces between HTML tags
- Use negative margins
- Set
font-size: 0
on the parent
Flexbox: Layout Made Easier
<p>display: flex
is a modern layout mode designed to help you build complex layouts more easily.- Applies to the container, affecting its children (called flex items).
- Items are laid out in a row or column automatically.
- Alignment, spacing, and order can be controlled with simple properties like
justify-content
,align-items
, andgap
.
<div style="display: flex; justify-content: space-between"> <div>Item 1</div> <div>Item 2</div> <div>Item 3</div> </div><p> This creates a horizontal layout with even spacing between items. <p> Key benefits:
- No need to float or clear elements
- Built-in alignment tools
- Responsive behavior with minimal code
Final Thoughts
<p> Each display type has its place depending on what you're trying to achieve.inline
and block
are foundational and still widely used. inline-block
gives more control for inline layouts. And flex
is the go-to choice for modern layout needs.
<p> You'll often switch between them depending on context—like using flex
for containers and block
or inline-block
inside those containers.
<p> Basically, just remember:
-
inline
: gos with the flow -
block
: starts fresh -
inline-block
: same line, but sized -
flex
: let the container handle the layout
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