The `margin:auto;` property does not function properly with inline-block elements

Question

The `margin:auto;` property does not function properly with inline-block elements

I recently adjusted my "container" div by changing it to an inline-block. Previously, I had applied margin:auto; to center it, which worked well with a specified width.

Original Code (functional)

#container {
    border: 1px solid black;
    height: 200px;
    width: 200px;
}
.MtopBig {
    margin-top: 75px;
}
.center {
    margin-left: auto;
    margin-right: auto;
    text-align: center;
}

<div class="center MtopBig" id="container"></div>

Updated Code (issue)

#container {
    border: 1px solid black;
    display: inline-block;
    padding: 50px;
}
.MtopBig {
    margin: 75px auto;
    position: relative;
}
.center {
    text-align: center;
}

<div class="center MtopBig" id="container"></div>

See DEMO on fiddle.

html css margin

Answer 1

Answer №1

It appears off-center now because it flows on the page like inline elements, similar to images. To center the inline-block div, you need to use text-align: center on the containing element.

#container {
    border: 1px solid black;
    display: inline-block;
    padding: 50px;
}
.MtopBig {
    margin: 75px auto;
    position: relative;
}
.center {
    text-align: center;
}

<div class="center">
    <div class="MtopBig" id="container"></div>
</div>

Answer 2

It appears off-center now because it flows on the page like inline elements, similar to images. To center the inline-block div, you need to use text-align: center on the containing element.

#container {
    border: 1px solid black;
    display: inline-block;
    padding: 50px;
}
.MtopBig {
    margin: 75px auto;
    position: relative;
}
.center {
    text-align: center;
}

<div class="center">
    <div class="MtopBig" id="container"></div>
</div>

Answer 3

Answer №2

Understanding the Use of 'auto' in CSS:

When using the value auto for horizontal margin, it instructs the element to fill up all the available space within its container (source: ).

Exploring Why 'display: inline-block' Does Not Center Elements:

In an inline setting, there is limited or no available horizontal space as other inline elements (such as characters) occupy their own space before and after. This results in the element acting as if it has zero horizontal margin set.

Understanding How 'display: block' Achieves Centering:

Elements with display: block set will utilize the full width of their parent container minus their own width for horizontal positioning. This behavior makes sense as display: block reserves this horizontal space. It's important to note that elements with display: block cannot be placed next to each other unless you use float, which also disables the availability of horizontal space.

Recommendation for Centering 'inline-block' Elements:

For elements styled with display: inline-block, consider them similar to characters when centering. One way to center these elements is by applying text-align: center to their parent container (which you might already be familiar with).

Answer 4

Understanding the Use of 'auto' in CSS:

When using the value auto for horizontal margin, it instructs the element to fill up all the available space within its container (source: ).

Exploring Why 'display: inline-block' Does Not Center Elements:

In an inline setting, there is limited or no available horizontal space as other inline elements (such as characters) occupy their own space before and after. This results in the element acting as if it has zero horizontal margin set.

Understanding How 'display: block' Achieves Centering:

Elements with display: block set will utilize the full width of their parent container minus their own width for horizontal positioning. This behavior makes sense as display: block reserves this horizontal space. It's important to note that elements with display: block cannot be placed next to each other unless you use float, which also disables the availability of horizontal space.

Recommendation for Centering 'inline-block' Elements:

For elements styled with display: inline-block, consider them similar to characters when centering. One way to center these elements is by applying text-align: center to their parent container (which you might already be familiar with).

Answer 5

Answer №3

When using the CSS property display: inline-block, any 'auto' computed value for 'margin-left' or 'margin-right' will be rendered as '0'. This behavior is specified in CSS2§10.3.9.

Answer 6

When using the CSS property display: inline-block, any 'auto' computed value for 'margin-left' or 'margin-right' will be rendered as '0'. This behavior is specified in CSS2§10.3.9.

Answer 7

Answer №4

margin-left:50%;
transform: translateX(-50%);

.container{
  border:solid 1px red;
}

.container img{
  display:inline-block;
  margin-left:50%;
  transform: translateX(-50%);
}

<div class="container">
  <img src="https://placekitten.com/100/300" />
</div>

Answer 8

margin-left:50%;
transform: translateX(-50%);

.container{
  border:solid 1px red;
}

.container img{
  display:inline-block;
  margin-left:50%;
  transform: translateX(-50%);
}

<div class="container">
  <img src="https://placekitten.com/100/300" />
</div>

Answer 9

Answer №5

I needed to create two inline divs on the same line, with one positioned at the far right. To achieve this, I set the width of the first div to 70% and let the second div take up the remaining space. Additionally, I applied white-space: nowrap; to ensure that the divs do not wrap onto the next line (making them responsive).

Here is an example:

<div style="border:1px solid black;white-space:nowrap;">
  <div style="border:1px solid black;display:inline-block;width:70%;max-width:70%;word-break:break-word;">
  <div style="border: 1px solid blue;word-break: break-word;white-space: normal;">  
  hello hi hi hi;hello hi hi hihello hi hi hihello hi hi hihello hi hi hihello hi hi hihello hi hi hihello hi hi hihello hi hi hi</div>
  </div>
  <div style="border:1px solid black;display:inline-block;width:28%;height:100%;vertical-align:top;word-break:break-word;white-space;">Right Side Inline-Div</div>
</div>

Note: The use of white-space: normal prevents inherited white-space and allows for word-break in the child containers.

Answer 10

I needed to create two inline divs on the same line, with one positioned at the far right. To achieve this, I set the width of the first div to 70% and let the second div take up the remaining space. Additionally, I applied white-space: nowrap; to ensure that the divs do not wrap onto the next line (making them responsive).

Here is an example:

<div style="border:1px solid black;white-space:nowrap;">
  <div style="border:1px solid black;display:inline-block;width:70%;max-width:70%;word-break:break-word;">
  <div style="border: 1px solid blue;word-break: break-word;white-space: normal;">  
  hello hi hi hi;hello hi hi hihello hi hi hihello hi hi hihello hi hi hihello hi hi hihello hi hi hihello hi hi hihello hi hi hi</div>
  </div>
  <div style="border:1px solid black;display:inline-block;width:28%;height:100%;vertical-align:top;word-break:break-word;white-space;">Right Side Inline-Div</div>
</div>

Note: The use of white-space: normal prevents inherited white-space and allows for word-break in the child containers.

The `margin:auto;` property does not function properly with inline-block elements

Original Code (functional)

Updated Code (issue)

Answer №1

Answer №2

Answer №3

Answer №4

Answer №5

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