The display property in CSS plays a crucial role in determining the formatting and layout of elements. This article aims to explore the distinctions among various inline-something display tags.

Unlike other display types, inline-something tags format the box as an inline-level box, while block-level tags format it as a block-level box. Although the box layout remains mostly consistent across all display types, block-level tags are generally preferred.

In CSS2.1, block and inline-block are defined as generating block boxes and inline-level block containers, respectively. Similarly, table and inline-table create block-level and inline-level tables, while flex and inline-flex produce block-level and inline-level flex containers. Grid and inline-grid generate block-level and inline-level grid containers.

Notably, the variations between block and inline-block do not extend to other display types. This summary also acknowledges that certain inquiries regarding inline-something in mail HTML, height and width on span elements, and defining the container in flexbox may lack clarity or adequate explanation.

Display Types

In the context of the pre-existing knowledge, the display types of inline-something determine how the box is formatted. Inline-something display types lay the box inline, while other display types format the box as a block-level box.

The display property differences for inline-something are not clearly explained, and the specifics of some display properties in a 1:1 comparison have not been covered.

The box layout is mostly the same for all display types, and there are no nuanced differences in the specifications.

Block-level display types are generally preferred, and certain scenarios prevent a box from being formatted as an inline-level box, resulting in a direct conversion from the inline-* variant to its block variant.

Examples of each display type and its inline-level counterpart are provided, highlighting the differences between them.

Inline-* Variants

The inline-* variants of display determine how the box is formatted and differ from other display types in terms of box layout and formatting context. These variants, such as inline-block, inline-flex, and inline-grid, allow the box to be laid out inline with other elements, rather than as a block-level box.

Despite this difference, the box layout is mostly the same for all display types. However, there are some subtle differences between the inline-* variants and their block-level counterparts. For example, inline-block always establishes a new block formatting context, while block and inline-block generate block container boxes.

Additionally, table, flex, and grid containers behave the same way whether they are block-level or inline-level. It is important to consider these differences when choosing the appropriate display property for a specific scenario.

Behavior and Formatting

Behavior and formatting can vary depending on the specific display type and its inline-level counterpart.

The display property determines how the box is formatted, with inline-something display types laying the box inline, while other display types format it as a block-level box.

Inline-something display tags, such as inline-block, inline-flex, and inline-grid, have similar box layout to their block-level counterparts. However, there are some important differences to note.

For example, inline-block always establishes a new block formatting context, while inline-flex and inline-grid generate inline-level flex and grid containers respectively.

It is also worth mentioning that block and inline-block are defined as generating block container boxes, and both block and inline-block generate block container boxes.

Overall, each display type and its inline-level counterpart have their own specific behavior and formatting characteristics.