According to information sourced from MDN, a formatting context encompasses everything on a page, providing a defined area for laying out content in a specific manner.
This leads to the question of what exactly is meant by the term "area" in this context. The definition provided states that a formatting context constitutes an area.
In addition, MDN explains that a block formatting context (BFC) plays a crucial role in the visual rendering of CSS elements on a webpage. It serves as the region where block box layout occurs and where floats interact with other elements.
The concept of an element being part of the visual CSS rendering of a webpage remains somewhat vague. It appears to refer to a region, which aligns with the notion of an area previously mentioned. This implies that a BFC can be considered a specified visual region or area within the viewport where the layout of HTML elements takes place.
Commonly used phrases in CSS tutorials mention how an element establishes a formatting context, with examples like using display: flow-root to establish a BFC.
When examining a code snippet featuring a .box element along with its contents, it becomes evident that they are all part of the initial block formatting context, as indicated by various sources including MDN. By adding the CSS declaration display: flow-root to the .box element, a new BFC is created, causing all its contents to become part of the newly established BFC or involve itself in that context's structure. Since a BFC is defined as an area or region of the viewport where layout activities occur, one could infer that the viewport region occupied by the parent element's padding box must serve as the BFC it establishes.
Given these explanations, does my understanding seem accurate? Can you elaborate further?