Graduating to Grid
A presentation at An Event Apart Denver: Special Edition 2017 in in Denver, CO, USA by Rachel Andrew
Graduating to Grid An Event Apart Denver 2017 @rachelandrew
@rachelandrew And there was great rejoicing.
@rachelandrew https://wpdev.uservoice.com/forums/257854-microsoft-edge-developer/suggestions/6514853-update-css-grid
@rachelandrew https://caniuse.com/#search=grid
@rachelandrew What’s it like being in the middle of a launch of a big new CSS feature?
@rachelandrew It involved a lot of email.
@rachelandrew Grid is: • Exciting - a real game changer • Confusing - it doesn’t seem to do what I thought it would • Scary - there are so many new properties to learn!
@rachelandrew “Q. How do you feel when you see a new CSS feature announced?” –Me, in a survey question
@rachelandrew “Excited but also worried about falling behind.” –Survey response
@rachelandrew “Excited, until I share it with colleagues and they pick it apart” –Survey response
@rachelandrew “Oh no, a new way to have inconsistencies between web browsers.” –Survey response
@rachelandrew “Tired.” –Survey response
@rachelandrew I can’t tell you what to do.
@rachelandrew I can help you develop the skills to make those decisions yourself.
@rachelandrew I want you to be the amazing CSS layout person on your team.
@rachelandrew You need to understand CSS.
@rachelandrew Understanding CSS is not about learning every property and value by heart. (my main skill is “can use a search engine”)
@rachelandrew Core ideas that help CSS layout make sense.
@rachelandrew Cascading Style Sheets
@rachelandrew Inheritance - which properties will inherit values from their parent.
@rachelandrew Specificity - which rule wins when two things could apply to the same element.
@rachelandrew https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Learn/CSS/Introduction_to_CSS/Cascade_and_inheritance
@rachelandrew Block and inline dimensions
@rachelandrew Horizontal Writing Mode Inline dimension or axis Block dimension or axis
@rachelandrew Vertical Writing Mode Block dimension or axis Inline dimension or axis
@rachelandrew Grid Layout in Horizontal Writing Mode Inline / Row axis Block / Column axis
@rachelandrew Flex Layout in Horizontal Writing Mode flex-direction: column Cross axis flex-direction: row Main axis Cross axis Main axis
@rachelandrew Sizing Matters
@rachelandrew https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/ZXMwdB
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/ZXMwdB @rachelandrew row wrapper 6.20% (6.20%*4) + (2.093333%*3)
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/ZXMwdB @rachelandrew .col { margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 2.093333%; width: 6.20%; float: left; } .row::after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } ! s e g a t n e c r e P ! g n i r a Cle ! h t a m n u F .col.span2 { width: calc((6.20%*2) + 2.093333%); } .col.span3 { width: calc((6.20%*3) + (2.093333%*2)); } .col.span4 { width: calc((6.20%*4) + (2.093333%*3)); }
@rachelandrew Percentages • Ugly • Easy to understand • If they total more than 100% bad things happen. • Can be converted from an ideal pixel size using a straightforward calculation.
@rachelandrew https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/eGPPaZ
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/eGPPaZ @rachelandrew Row wrapper as flex container 6.20% (6.20%*4) + (2.093333%*3)
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/eGPPaZ @rachelandrew .wrapper .row { display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; } .col { ! s e g padding: 10px; a t n e c r margin-bottom: 1em; Pe margin-left: 2.093333%; ! s m e t i width: 6.20%; x e fl e l b i flex: 0 0 auto; x e fl n I } ! h t a m n u F .col.span2 { width: calc((6.20%*2) + 2.093333%); } .col.span3 { width: calc((6.20%*3) + (2.093333%*2)); } .col.span4 { width: calc((6.20%*4) + (2.093333%*3)); }
@rachelandrew Past layout methods create the appearance of a grid, by lining things up.
@rachelandrew CSS Intrinsic and Extrinsic Sizing https://drafts.csswg.org/css-sizing-3/
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/rGqQNM/ @rachelandrew /* html */
<div class="box"> I am a string of text. </div> /* css */ .box { padding: 10px; border: 5px dotted rgba(255,255,255,.7); margin-bottom: 2em; }
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/rGqQNM/ @rachelandrew available width
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/rGqQNM/ @rachelandrew .box { width: 500px; }
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/rGqQNM/ @rachelandrew available width 500px
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/rGqQNM/ @rachelandrew max content min content
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/rGqQNM/ @rachelandrew .box { width: min-content; }
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/rGqQNM/ @rachelandrew available width min-content
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/rGqQNM/ @rachelandrew .box { width: max-content; }
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/rGqQNM/ @rachelandrew available width max-content
@rachelandrew https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/rGqQNM/
<div class="fixed-width"> <div class="box"> I am a longer string of text and max-content will cause me to overflow. </div> </div>
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/rGqQNM/ @rachelandrew .fixed-width { width: 20em; border: 5px solid rgb(255,255,255); margin-bottom: 2em; } .box { width: max-content; }
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/rGqQNM/ @rachelandrew max-content 20em
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/KXGbQo/ @rachelandrew
<div class="box"> <div>Item 1</div> <div>Item 2</div> <div>Item 3</div> <div>Item 4</div> </div>
@rachelandrew Items start by trying to display at max-content size. Space is reduced according to the flexbasis. In this case the size of the content. https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/KXGbQo/
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/KXGbQo/ @rachelandrew flex: 1 1 auto; Items can grow and shrink so stretch to fill the container. With no extra space, items shrink as before.
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/KXGbQo/ @rachelandrew flex: 1 1 0; Items can grow and shrink so stretch to fill the container. With a flex-basis of 0 space is distributed from 0, making equal columns.
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/wrYONK @rachelandrew Flex items at min-content size Grid items at max-content size
@rachelandrew Flexbox is starting from max-content and taking space away. Grid starting at min-content and adding space.
@rachelandrew https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/bomZVP/ .grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(4, min-content); }
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/bomZVP/ @rachelandrew min-content
@rachelandrew https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/bomZVP/ .grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(4, max-content); }
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/bomZVP/ @rachelandrew max-content
@rachelandrew https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/Oxqgqo .grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(4, fit-content(15ch)); }
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/Oxqgqo @rachelandrew fit-content(15ch)
@rachelandrew https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/ZXPJbQ
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/ZXPJbQ @rachelandrew grid-template-columns: repeat(12, minmax(0,1fr)); grid-column: auto / span 4;
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/ZXPJbQ @rachelandrew .wrapper { display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(12, minmax(0,1fr)); grid-gap: 20px; } .col.span2 { grid-column: auto / span 2; } .col.span3 { grid-column: auto / span 3; } .col.span4 { grid-column: auto / span 4; }
@rachelandrew https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/ZXPJbQ .wrapper { display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(12, minmax(0,1fr)); grid-column-gap: 2.093333%; grid-row-gap: 20px; } .col.span2 { grid-column: auto / span 2; } .col.span3 { grid-column: auto / span 3; } .col.span4 { grid-column: auto / span 4; }
https://slack.engineering/rebuilding-slack-com-b124c405c193 @rachelandrew “In the end, we discovered that a column-based grid wasn’t actually needed. Since Grid allows you to create a custom grid to match whatever layout you have, we didn’t need to force it into 12 columns. Instead, we created CSS Grid objects for some of the common layout patterns in the designs.” –Rebuilding Slack.com
@rachelandrew https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/RLOxMB
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/RLOxMB @rachelandrew 300px 120px
@rachelandrew https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/RLOxMB .media { display: grid; grid-template-columns: fit-content(300px) 1fr; grid-gap: 20px; }
@rachelandrew https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/jGRzzv/
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/jGRzzv/ @rachelandrew .panel { display: grid; grid-gap: 1px; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr 3fr; grid-template-rows: minmax(100px, auto) minmax(50px, auto) minmax(250px, auto) minmax(50px, auto) minmax(150px, auto); }
@rachelandrew Min 50px Max auto https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/jGRzzv/
@rachelandrew Min 50px Max auto Min 50px Max auto https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/jGRzzv/
@rachelandrew This is not exciting. But it will let you do exciting things.
@rachelandrew Why so complicated?
@rachelandrew More capability & flexibility means more to learn
@rachelandrew It is all just lines.
@rachelandrew https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/bomPLN/
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/bomPLN/ @rachelandrew 1 1 2 3 4 5 2 3 4 5 6
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/bomPLN/ @rachelandrew .grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr; grid-template-rows: 100px 100px 100px 100px; } .item { grid-column: 2 / 5; grid-row: 2 / 4; }
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/oGQXjx/ @rachelandrew 1 1 content-start 3 content-end 5 content-start 3 4 content-end 6
@rachelandrew https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/oGQXjx/ .grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr [content-start] 1fr 1fr 1fr [content-end] 1fr; grid-template-rows: 100px [content-start] 100px 100px [content-end] 100px; } .item { grid-column: content-start / content-end; grid-row: content-start / content-end; }
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/oGQXjx/ @rachelandrew 1 1 content-start 3 content-end 5 content-start 3 4 content-end 6
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/QqJbyB/ @rachelandrew 1 content-start 3 4 1 content-start 3 content-end 5 content content-end 6
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/QqJbyB/ @rachelandrew .grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr [content-start] 1fr 1fr 1fr [content-end] 1fr; grid-template-rows: 100px [content-start] 100px 100px [content-end] 100px; } .item { grid-area: content; }
@rachelandrew https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/QqJbyB/ .grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr [content-start] 1fr 1fr 1fr [content-end] 1fr; grid-template-rows: 100px [content-start] 100px 100px [content-end] 100px; } .item { grid-area: content / content / content / content; }
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/QqJbyB/ @rachelandrew grid-area: content / content / content / content; grid-row-start grid-column-start grid-row-end grid-column-end
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/QqJbyB/ @rachelandrew 1 1 content-start content 3 4 content-start content 3 content-end content 5 content content-end content 6
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/QqJbyB/ @rachelandrew grid-area: content / content / content / content; grid-row-start grid-column-start grid-row-end grid-column-end
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/QqJbyB/ @rachelandrew grid-area: content / content / content ; grid-row-start grid-column-start grid-row-end • grid-column-end is set to the value used for grid-column-start, which is ‘content’.
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/QqJbyB/ @rachelandrew grid-area: content / content ; grid-row-start grid-column-start • grid-row-end is set to the value used for grid-column-start, which is ‘content’. • grid-column-end is set to the value used for grid-column-start, which is ‘content’.
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/QqJbyB/ @rachelandrew grid-area: content ; grid-row-start • The other three values are set to the same as grid-row-start, so all are set to ‘content’
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/xXQGVG/ @rachelandrew .grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr; grid-template-rows: 100px 100px 100px 100px; grid-template-areas: ". . . . ." ". content content content ." ". content content content ." ". . . . ." } .item { grid-area: content ; }
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/xXQGVG/ @rachelandrew 1 content 3 4 content 1 content content content content content content content 3 content 5 6
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/xXQGVG/ @rachelandrew 1 content 3 4 content 1 content content content content content content content 3 content 5 6
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/xXQGVG/ @rachelandrew 1 1 content content-start 3 4 content content-end content content-start content content content content content content 3 content content-end 5 6
@rachelandrew https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/xXQGVG/ .grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr; grid-template-rows: 100px 100px 100px 100px; grid-template-areas: ". . . . ." ". content content content ." ". content content content ." ". . . . ." } .item { grid-area: content ; } .item2 { grid-row-start: content-start; grid-column-start: content-end; }
@rachelandrew https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/xXQGVG
@rachelandrew You have real choice for the first time.
@rachelandrew What would be the best method to achieve this design pattern?
@rachelandrew Could we solve this problem with a new design pattern?
@rachelandrew Instead of “which patterns does our framework give us to use?”
@rachelandrew How old is the oldest CSS in your project?
@rachelandrew 368 people working on existing projects 29 had CSS in their codebase written 10 years or more ago.
@rachelandrew Old CSS in your project doesn’t mean you can’t use new CSS.
@rachelandrew This is where understanding CSS comes in really useful.
@rachelandrew https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/wrbwOz/
@rachelandrew https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/wrbwOz/
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/wrbwOz/ @rachelandrew img { max-width: 100%; } .gallery { display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill,minmax(200px,1fr)); grid-gap: 10px 20px; grid-auto-flow: dense; } .portrait { grid-row-end: span 2; } figcaption { text-align: center; font-size: 1.5em; }
@rachelandrew Creating systems with new layout.
@rachelandrew Other layout methods still exist.
@rachelandrew https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/ZXNYob/ Floating the image means the text wraps round. Defining a grid on the container means we don’t get the wrapping behaviour.
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/RLmNvY/ @rachelandrew Multi-column layout splits content into equal width columns. Using column-width of 200px means we get more columns if there is room, fewer with less available width.
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/OxYVmL @rachelandrew Flex items with the value of justify-content set to space-between. I also use flexbox to centre the word in the circle.
@rachelandrew You don’t need a grid-shaped hammer for every layout task.
@rachelandrew Off-the-shelf frameworks are designed to solve generic problems.
@rachelandrew Do you want your project to inherit the CSS issues of the rest of the world?
@rachelandrew Build your own framework* * framework doesn’t mean “all-encompassing behemoth”
@rachelandrew Solving your specific problems only will result in lighter, easier to understand code
https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/dVEojr/ @rachelandrew @mixin gridded($type: grid, $col: 20em, $gap: 20px) { @if ($type == 'flex') { display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; margin-left: -#{$gap} ; > * { flex: 1 1 $col; margin: 0 0 $gap $gap; } } @if ($type == 'grid') { display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax($col,1fr)); grid-gap: $gap; } @if ($type == 'multicol') { column-gap: $gap; column-width: $col; } }
@rachelandrew https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/dVEojr/ .multicol { @include gridded('multicol',200px,20px); } .grid{ @include gridded('grid',200px,20px); } .flex { @include gridded('flex',200px,20px); }
@rachelandrew https://codepen.io/rachelandrew/pen/dVEojr/
@rachelandrew Working with less capable browsers. These may not always be old browsers.
@rachelandrew A lack of understanding on one side. A lack of confidence on the other.
@rachelandrew https://web.archive.org/web/20060318055841/http://developer.yahoo.com/yui/articles/gbs/gbs_browser-chart.html
@rachelandrew Building confidence in your CSS skills will help you to make your case to use newer methods. (Although quite often asking permission is optional)
@rachelandrew Old browser versions 39% of survey respondents cited IE11 as oldest IE supported.
@rachelandrew Old browser versions 63% of survey respondents support IE10+
@rachelandrew https://rachelandrew.co.uk/archives/2016/11/26/should-i-try-to-use-the-ie-implementation-of-css-grid-layout/ IE10 & 11 have the -ms prefixed older version of grid layout.
@rachelandrew For other desktop browsers supporting the last 2 versions is common.
@rachelandrew http://caniuse.com/#search=css%20grid
@rachelandrew http://caniuse.com/#search=css%20grid
@rachelandrew Many browsers without support for Grid and other new CSS at this point are mobile browsers.
@rachelandrew Many of the browsers without support are most popular in areas where data is expensive or devices less powerful.
@rachelandrew “Grid too young and would need a ton of polyfills.” “Lack of a good css grid polyfill that works with postcss and supports not so old browsers” –Survey responses
@rachelandrew Stop looking for polyfills and shims. They will make the experience worse for less capable browsers and devices.
@rachelandrew Using Grid rather than loading a big framework can help create a better experience even for browsers that don’t support Grid.
@rachelandrew Feature Queries - use CSS to ask if the browser supports a feature before using it.
@rachelandrew https://twitter.com/dieulot/status/938858161699807233
@rachelandrew Create complex layouts for browsers that support them with a few lines of CSS.
@rachelandrew Making the web available to everyone. That’s exciting.
@rachelandrew “Q. How do you feel when you see a new CSS feature announced?” –Me, in a survey question
@rachelandrew “Excited!”
Thank you! @rachelandrew
There is a video of this presentation available on the An Event Apart website.
When CSS Grid Layout shipped into multiple browsers in the Spring of 2017 it heralded the dawn of a new way to do layout on the web. Now that the excitement of launch has passed, Rachel Andrew will take a look at what went right or wrong in these first few months, and offer help to those struggling to transition away from legacy methods. In a practical, example-packed hour, Rachel will help give you the confidence and practical skills to fully embrace Grid layout. We’ll compare common framework patterns to new Grid code, and learn how to create a workflow that is right up to date—a workflow grounded in new CSS, yet able to care for old browsers and ensure a good experience for their users.
Resources
The following resources were mentioned during the presentation or are useful additional information.
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CSS Grid Specification
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Flexbox Specification
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Box Alignment Specification
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CSS Intrinsic and Extrinsic Sizing Specification
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Grid by Example
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CSS Grid Docs on MDN
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Mozilla CSS Grid Playground
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CSS Grid Gotchas and Stumbling Blocks
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Naming Things in CSS Grid Layout
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Breaking Out With CSS Grid Explained
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CSS Grid Fallbacks and Overrides Cheatsheet
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Should I try to use the IE implementation of Grid Layout?
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Using Feature Queries in CSS
Code
The following code examples from the presentation can be tried out live.
Buzz and feedback
Here’s what was said about this presentation on social media.
