Brief Intro to CSS Box Model

Ashish JhaAshish Jha
3 min read

What is a Box Model in CSS?

The CSS Box model is a box that wraps around every HTML element. The term "Box Model" is used when talking about design and Layout. It consists of few things: Margin, Padding, Borders, and the Actual content.

All the things in a box model give HTML a structure. We will discuss some of the options given to us for this model

Borders

Borders can be applied to most boxes in HTML. Borders have parameters such as

  • border-width : This decidess what the width of the border will be

  • border-style: This parameter helps us to determine the style of the border

  • border-color: We can change the color of the border using this parameter

  • border-radius: This is use to curve the edges and can help us to make the UI look more elegant or make rounded shapes.

    We can use the various options these parameters provide us. We can use these parameter on all four sides of the container. For more in-depth knowledge refer here

Margin

Margins are like their name suggests, consider the margins of your notebook. We try to keep things within the margins of the notebook. Similarly in CSS when we use margin it is applied on the outer side of the container. It can be use as

  • margin: This applies the margin evenly on all four sides of the container

  • margin-left : This applies the margin at the left side of the container

  • margin-top : This applies the margin at the top side of the container

  • margin-right This applies margin at the right side of the container

  • margin-bottom: This applies the margin at the bottom side of the container

Warning: Overuse of Margin may lead to margin-collapse which messes up the entire flow of the layout.

It is best to avoid using margins in all places. Margins can affect the layout of other containers depending on where you use it. For more in-depth knowledge refer here

Padding

Padding is the gap inside, between the border and the content. It's like a cushion that separates the border and the content inside the container. Padding doesn't not impact anything outside of the container. It is essential to the layout.

Just like the margin, we can apply padding on all four sides of the container or just one side depending on the requirements of the UI. It can be applied as

  • padding: This applies the padding evenly on all four sides of the container
  • padding-left : This applies the padding at the left inner side of the container

  • padding-top : This applies the margin at the top inner side of the container

  • padding-right This applies margin at the right inner-side of the container

  • padding-bottom: This applies the margin at the bottom inner-side of the container

For more in-depth knowledge refer here

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Ashish Jha
Ashish Jha