CSS Flexbox vs Grid: When to Use Which

CSS Flexbox and Grid are both powerful layout systems, but they serve different purposes. Understanding when to use each one is crucial for creating efficient, maintainable layouts.

Flexbox is one-dimensional — it works along either a row OR a column. It's perfect for components where you need to distribute space among items in a single direction: navigation bars, card rows, centering content, or aligning items within a container.

CSS Grid is two-dimensional — it handles both rows AND columns simultaneously. It's ideal for page-level layouts, complex grid systems, and any design where you need precise control over both dimensions.

A good rule of thumb: use Flexbox for components (small-scale layouts) and Grid for page layouts (large-scale structure). But they work beautifully together — you can nest Flexbox inside Grid cells or vice versa.

Try both approaches in CompileZ's HTML editor. Start with the Flexbox tutorial, then switch to the Grid tutorial to see the difference firsthand.