What is the best way to expand the width of an element to be 100% minus the widths of its sibling elements?

Question

What is the best way to expand the width of an element to be 100% minus the widths of its sibling elements?

If I have the following list in no particular order, and the button width is set to auto, what is the best way to style the elements so that #textField expands as much as possible, with the combined width of #textField and the button reaching 100%? In other words, #textField's width should be equal to the total width minus the computed width of the button.

<ul>
  <li>
    <input id="textField" type="text" /><input type="button" />
  </li>
</ul>

For example, if the total width of li is 100 pixels and the computed width of the button is 30px, #textField's width would be 70px. If the button's width is 25px, #textField's width would be 75px.

html css

Answer 1

Answer №1

To create this effect swiftly, you can use a combination of float and overflow: hidden:

<ul>
    <li>
        <input class="btn" type="button" value="Submit"/>
        <div class="inputbox"><input id="textField" type="text" /></div>
    </li>
</ul>

CSS:

ul { 
  list-style: none; 
  padding: 0; }
.btn { float: right; }
.inputbox { 
  padding: 0 5px 0 0;
  overflow: hidden; }
.inputbox input { 
  width: 100%;
  -webkit-box-sizing: border-box;
  -moz-box-sizing: border-box;
  box-sizing: border-box; }

Preview (with box-sizing): http://jsfiddle.net/Wexcode/E8uHf/546/

To see the difference without box-sizing, click here: http://jsfiddle.net/Wexcode/E8uHf/

Answer 2

To create this effect swiftly, you can use a combination of float and overflow: hidden:

<ul>
    <li>
        <input class="btn" type="button" value="Submit"/>
        <div class="inputbox"><input id="textField" type="text" /></div>
    </li>
</ul>

CSS:

ul { 
  list-style: none; 
  padding: 0; }
.btn { float: right; }
.inputbox { 
  padding: 0 5px 0 0;
  overflow: hidden; }
.inputbox input { 
  width: 100%;
  -webkit-box-sizing: border-box;
  -moz-box-sizing: border-box;
  box-sizing: border-box; }

Preview (with box-sizing): http://jsfiddle.net/Wexcode/E8uHf/546/

To see the difference without box-sizing, click here: http://jsfiddle.net/Wexcode/E8uHf/

Answer 3

Answer №2

Check out this solution:

HTML

<ul>
  <li>
    <input id="textField" type="text" /><input value="Click Me!" class="btn"type="button" />
  </li>
</ul>

CSS

ul li {
    width:100%;
}

#textField, .btn {
    float:left;
}

#textField {
    width:70%;
}

.btn {
    width:auto;
}

Take a look at the demonstration here:

http://jsfiddle.net/uniqueusername/ABC123/

Here are a few additional demos I created for your review.

Here is a demo that utilizes CSS3's flex-box model to expand the input field without specifying a width. Please note that this may not be compatible with IE8 and earlier versions.

Additionally, this demo simulates a table layout using only CSS. It is compatible with IE8 and later versions.

Answer 4

Check out this solution:

HTML

<ul>
  <li>
    <input id="textField" type="text" /><input value="Click Me!" class="btn"type="button" />
  </li>
</ul>

CSS

ul li {
    width:100%;
}

#textField, .btn {
    float:left;
}

#textField {
    width:70%;
}

.btn {
    width:auto;
}

Take a look at the demonstration here:

http://jsfiddle.net/uniqueusername/ABC123/

Here are a few additional demos I created for your review.

Here is a demo that utilizes CSS3's flex-box model to expand the input field without specifying a width. Please note that this may not be compatible with IE8 and earlier versions.

Additionally, this demo simulates a table layout using only CSS. It is compatible with IE8 and later versions.

Answer 5

Answer №3

Utilizing CSS in user agents that support CSS-2.x layout engines allows for achieving full-width elements:

  
  <style type="text/css">
    .full-width {
      width: 100%;
    }

    .table {
      display: table;
    }

    .row {
      display: table-row;
    }

    .cell {
      display: table-cell;
    }
  </style>
</head>

<body>
  <ul class="table">
    <li class="row">
      <span class="cell full-width">
        <input type="text" id="textField" class="full-width" />
      </span>
      <span class="cell">
        <input type="button" value="foobar" />
      </span>
    </li>
  </ul>
</body>

Successfully tested in the following browsers:

Chromium 16.0.912.75 (Developer Build 116452 Linux), Apple WebCore 535.7
Chromium 16.0.912.63 (Developer Build 113337 Linux), Apple WebCore 535.1

Please be aware that paddings and margins on input elements may cause issues due to the fixed width.

However: There seems to be no compelling reason not to employ a table element in this case (tables and CSS complement each other). Semantically, it would be appropriate (the table would be serializable), and compatibility is likely to be better than with the aforementioned CSS display values:

<body>
  <ul>
    <li>
      <table class="full-width"
             summary="Input text field with &#8220;foobar&#8221; button">
        <tr>
          <td class="full-width">
            <input type="text" id="textField" class="full-width" />
          </td>
          <td>
            <input type="button" value="foobar" />
          </td>
        </tr>
      </table>
    </li>
  </ul>
</body>

It is possible that using only a table element at this location from the beginning would have been a better choice.

Answer 6

Utilizing CSS in user agents that support CSS-2.x layout engines allows for achieving full-width elements:

  
  <style type="text/css">
    .full-width {
      width: 100%;
    }

    .table {
      display: table;
    }

    .row {
      display: table-row;
    }

    .cell {
      display: table-cell;
    }
  </style>
</head>

<body>
  <ul class="table">
    <li class="row">
      <span class="cell full-width">
        <input type="text" id="textField" class="full-width" />
      </span>
      <span class="cell">
        <input type="button" value="foobar" />
      </span>
    </li>
  </ul>
</body>

Successfully tested in the following browsers:

Chromium 16.0.912.75 (Developer Build 116452 Linux), Apple WebCore 535.7
Chromium 16.0.912.63 (Developer Build 113337 Linux), Apple WebCore 535.1

Please be aware that paddings and margins on input elements may cause issues due to the fixed width.

However: There seems to be no compelling reason not to employ a table element in this case (tables and CSS complement each other). Semantically, it would be appropriate (the table would be serializable), and compatibility is likely to be better than with the aforementioned CSS display values:

<body>
  <ul>
    <li>
      <table class="full-width"
             summary="Input text field with &#8220;foobar&#8221; button">
        <tr>
          <td class="full-width">
            <input type="text" id="textField" class="full-width" />
          </td>
          <td>
            <input type="button" value="foobar" />
          </td>
        </tr>
      </table>
    </li>
  </ul>
</body>

It is possible that using only a table element at this location from the beginning would have been a better choice.

Answer 7

Answer №4

My solution involved using a table and adjusting the cell width to accommodate the text field:

<ul>
  <li>
    <table>
      <tr>
        <td width="100%"><input width="100%" id="textField" type="text" /></td>
        <td><input type="button" width="auto" /></td>
      </tr>
    </table>
  </li>
</ul>

Answer 8

My solution involved using a table and adjusting the cell width to accommodate the text field:

<ul>
  <li>
    <table>
      <tr>
        <td width="100%"><input width="100%" id="textField" type="text" /></td>
        <td><input type="button" width="auto" /></td>
      </tr>
    </table>
  </li>
</ul>

Answer 9

Answer №5

What do you think of this solution?

<ul>
  <li>
    <input id='inputField' style='width: 80%'/><input type='button' style='width: 20%'/>
  </li>
</ul>

Answer 10

What do you think of this solution?

<ul>
  <li>
    <input id='inputField' style='width: 80%'/><input type='button' style='width: 20%'/>
  </li>
</ul>

Answer 11

Answer №6

<ul>
  <li style="position:relative; width:100%;">
    <input id="textField" type="text" style="position:absolute; left:0px; right:100px" />
    <input type="button" value="Send" style="position:absolute; right:0; width:auto" />
  </li>
</ul>

Modify right:100px to adjust spacing between input field and button;

Answer 12

<ul>
  <li style="position:relative; width:100%;">
    <input id="textField" type="text" style="position:absolute; left:0px; right:100px" />
    <input type="button" value="Send" style="position:absolute; right:0; width:auto" />
  </li>
</ul>

Modify right:100px to adjust spacing between input field and button;

Answer 13

Answer №7

To achieve this using JavaScript, calculate the difference between the width of the list item and the button, then set the width of the textbox to match. Be sure to consider the box model when making these adjustments. Without JavaScript, I'm not sure how else to accomplish this task.

Answer 14

To achieve this using JavaScript, calculate the difference between the width of the list item and the button, then set the width of the textbox to match. Be sure to consider the box model when making these adjustments. Without JavaScript, I'm not sure how else to accomplish this task.

Answer 15

Answer №8

Forget about using tables and positioning. The trick is to float one element to the left and the other to the right.

Check out this example on JSFiddle

Here is the HTML code:

<ul>
<li class="media attribution">
<button class="button" >Press Me</button>
<div class="copy">b blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blahblah blah blahblah blah blah  blah blah blahblah blah blahblah blah blahblah blah blah blah blah blahlah blah blah</div>
</li>
</ul>

And here is the CSS code:

.media{ border:1px solid black }
.media, .copy{overflow:hidden; _overflow:visible; zoom:1;}
.media .button{float:left; margin-right: 10px;}

Answer 16

Forget about using tables and positioning. The trick is to float one element to the left and the other to the right.

Check out this example on JSFiddle

Here is the HTML code:

<ul>
<li class="media attribution">
<button class="button" >Press Me</button>
<div class="copy">b blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blahblah blah blahblah blah blah  blah blah blahblah blah blahblah blah blahblah blah blah blah blah blahlah blah blah</div>
</li>
</ul>

And here is the CSS code:

.media{ border:1px solid black }
.media, .copy{overflow:hidden; _overflow:visible; zoom:1;}
.media .button{float:left; margin-right: 10px;}

Answer 17

Answer №9

Perhaps this solution will be beneficial, especially if you specify a maxlength for the input field:

/* CSS */

ul{ 
    float:left; 
    border:1px solid #000; 
    padding:0; 
    position:relative; 
    width:20%; 
    height:25px; 
}

ul li{ 
    float:left; 
    margin:0; 
    padding:0; 
    border:0; 
    list-style-type:none; 
    width:100%; 
    height:100%; 
    position:relative; 
}

ul li input{ 
    margin:0; 
    padding:0; 
    border:0; 
}

ul li input[type='text']{ 
    float:left; 
    width:100%; 
    height:100%; 
    text-indent:10px;  
}

ul li input[type='submit']{  
    position:absolute; 
    right:0; 
    width:auto; 
    height:100%; 
}

/* HTML */

<body>

    <ul>
        <li>
            <input type="text" /><input type="submit" value="Submit" />
        </li>
    </ul>

</body>

This code essentially ensures the input[type='text'] remains at 100% width and places the button absolutely within the parent li. The button's width is automatic, with a height of 100% to cover the input field. By setting a maxlength on the input field, you can prevent the text from being obscured by the button.

Answer 18

Perhaps this solution will be beneficial, especially if you specify a maxlength for the input field:

/* CSS */

ul{ 
    float:left; 
    border:1px solid #000; 
    padding:0; 
    position:relative; 
    width:20%; 
    height:25px; 
}

ul li{ 
    float:left; 
    margin:0; 
    padding:0; 
    border:0; 
    list-style-type:none; 
    width:100%; 
    height:100%; 
    position:relative; 
}

ul li input{ 
    margin:0; 
    padding:0; 
    border:0; 
}

ul li input[type='text']{ 
    float:left; 
    width:100%; 
    height:100%; 
    text-indent:10px;  
}

ul li input[type='submit']{  
    position:absolute; 
    right:0; 
    width:auto; 
    height:100%; 
}

/* HTML */

<body>

    <ul>
        <li>
            <input type="text" /><input type="submit" value="Submit" />
        </li>
    </ul>

</body>

This code essentially ensures the input[type='text'] remains at 100% width and places the button absolutely within the parent li. The button's width is automatic, with a height of 100% to cover the input field. By setting a maxlength on the input field, you can prevent the text from being obscured by the button.

Answer 19

Answer №10

/* ROBOTICCSS*/
/*  test in ff - works*/

ul{
width: auto;
padding: 0 80px 0 0;/* right padding >= button width */
list-style:none;
}

input.text_area{
width: 100%;
}

input.submit_button{
float: right;
margin: 0 -80px 0 0;/* match above value */
}

<!--HTML -->
<ul>
  <li>
      <input class="text_area" type="text" />
      <input class="submit_button" type="button" value="Submit"/>
  </li>
</ul>

Answer 20

/* ROBOTICCSS*/
/*  test in ff - works*/

ul{
width: auto;
padding: 0 80px 0 0;/* right padding >= button width */
list-style:none;
}

input.text_area{
width: 100%;
}

input.submit_button{
float: right;
margin: 0 -80px 0 0;/* match above value */
}

<!--HTML -->
<ul>
  <li>
      <input class="text_area" type="text" />
      <input class="submit_button" type="button" value="Submit"/>
  </li>
</ul>

Answer 21

Answer №11

Here is a code snippet that brings us very close to the expected outcome:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<style>
li { width: 100%; border: 1px solid black; display: block; text-align: justify; }
span { display: inline-block; }
span { width: 100%; }
#foo { display: inline-block; width: 90%; border: 1px solid red; }
#foo input { display: block; width: 100%; }
</style>
</head>

<ul>
  <li>
    <object id="foo"><input type="text"></object> <object><input type="button" value="1234567890"></object>
      <span></span>
  </li>
</ul>

</html>

Answer 22

Here is a code snippet that brings us very close to the expected outcome:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<style>
li { width: 100%; border: 1px solid black; display: block; text-align: justify; }
span { display: inline-block; }
span { width: 100%; }
#foo { display: inline-block; width: 90%; border: 1px solid red; }
#foo input { display: block; width: 100%; }
</style>
</head>

<ul>
  <li>
    <object id="foo"><input type="text"></object> <object><input type="button" value="1234567890"></object>
      <span></span>
  </li>
</ul>

</html>

What is the best way to expand the width of an element to be 100% minus the widths of its sibling elements?

Answer №1

Answer №2

Answer №3

Answer №4

Answer №5

Answer №6

Answer №7

Answer №8

Answer №9

Answer №10

Answer №11

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