CSS container queries allow styling elements based on their container's size. 1. Container queries work by defining a container with container-type, then using @container rules to apply styles based on that container's dimensions. 2. Developers can also name containers with container-name for better readability. 3. They enable responsive components that adapt to their own space, useful for cards, toolbars, and dynamic layouts. 4. Browser support is strong in modern browsers, though fallbacks may be needed for older ones. 5. Gotchas include only querying inline size by default, avoiding naming conflicts, and preventing overuse for maintainability.
CSS container queries let you style elements based on the size of their container, not the entire viewport. This is a big deal because it gives developers more control over how components behave in different layouts.

Before container queries, media queries were the go-to tool, but they only respond to the viewport size. That works for global layout changes, but not for individual components that might appear in different sizes depending on where they're placed.
How do container queries work?
To use a container query, you first need to define an element as a container. This is done using the container-type
property:

.widget { container-type: inline-size; }
Once an element is a container, you can write a @container
rule in your CSS to apply styles based on its size:
@container (min-width: 400px) { .widget { font-size: 20px; } }
This means the .widget
will only get that font size when its container is at least 400px wide — not the whole page.

You can also name your containers for better readability:
.widget { container-name: sidebar-card; } @container sidebar-card (min-width: 400px) { /* Styles here */ }
Why container queries are useful
They make responsive components possible. Think of a card component that appears in different parts of a site — sometimes full-width, sometimes in a sidebar or grid. With container queries, the card can adapt to its own space, not just the screen size.
This leads to cleaner code and more modular design systems. You don’t have to write special classes for every layout variation — the component just responds to its environment.
Some real-world uses:
- Adjusting font sizes or layout inside cards
- Switching between horizontal and vertical layouts for toolbars
- Hiding or showing elements based on container space
Browser support and current status
Container queries are well-supported in modern browsers like Chrome, Edge, and Safari (as of late 2023). Firefox added support in version 110. If you're building a new site or app and don’t need to support very old browsers, you can start using them today.
If you're working on a project that needs broader compatibility, you may want to:
- Use feature detection (
@supports
) - Provide fallback styles
- Consider JavaScript-based solutions for now
A few gotchas to watch for
- You can only query the inline size of a container unless you use
container-type: size
, which is less widely supported. - Container names must be unique within a document.
- Overusing container queries can lead to complex, hard-to-debug styles — use them where it makes sense.
Also, keep in mind that nested containers will respond to their immediate parent’s size, which can be powerful but also tricky if not planned well.
So, basically, container queries give components the ability to be smart about their surroundings. They're not a replacement for media queries, but they're a big step forward in building flexible, reusable UI elements.
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