Using Space Between for Flexbox Layouts

1. Introduction

In this tutorial, we are going to understand how to use the 'space-between' property in CSS Flexbox layouts.

Goal

The primary goal of this tutorial is to help you master the usage of 'space-between' in designing responsive web layouts.

Learning Outcome

By the end of this tutorial, you will be able to:
- Understand the basic concept of 'space-between' in Flexbox
- Know how to use 'space-between' to distribute space evenly in your web layouts
- Apply this property in practical examples

Prerequisites

You should have an understanding of basic CSS and HTML. Familiarity with the Flexbox layout will be beneficial but not mandatory.

2. Step-by-Step Guide

Concept

The 'justify-content' property in CSS Flexbox controls how the browser distributes space between and around content along the main axis of a flex container. 'space-between' is a value of this property, and it distributes free space evenly between the elements. The first item is flush with the start line, and the last item is flush with the end line.

Best Practice and Tips

• Use 'space-between' when you want to distribute space evenly between elements.
• Be aware of the direction of your main axis. The main axis is horizontal by default, but you can change it with the 'flex-direction' property.

3. Code Examples

Let's see some practical examples:

Example 1: Basic Usage of 'space-between'

<div class="container">
  <div>Box 1</div>
  <div>Box 2</div>
  <div>Box 3</div>
</div>

.container {
  display: flex;
  justify-content: space-between;
}

In this example, 'Box 1' will be at the start line, 'Box 3' at the end line, and 'Box 2' in the middle with equal space on both sides.

Example 2: 'space-between' with 'flex-direction'

<div class="container">
  <div>Box 1</div>
  <div>Box 2</div>
  <div>Box 3</div>
</div>

.container {
  display: flex;
  flex-direction: column;
  justify-content: space-between;
}

In this example, the 'flex-direction' property changes the main axis to vertical. 'Box 1' will be at the top, 'Box 3' at the bottom, and 'Box 2' in the middle with equal space above and below.

4. Summary

We've covered the 'space-between' property in CSS Flexbox layouts. We learned how to distribute space evenly between elements along the main axis. This property is a useful tool for creating responsive web layouts.

To continue learning about Flexbox, consider exploring other 'justify-content' values like 'space-around' and 'space-evenly'.

Here are some additional resources:
- A Complete Guide to Flexbox - CSS Tricks
- Flexbox - MDN Web Docs

5. Practice Exercises

1. Create a flex container with five boxes. Use 'space-between' to distribute the boxes evenly.
2. Change the main axis to vertical and observe how 'space-between' affects the layout.

Solutions

<div class="container">
  <div>Box 1</div>
  <div>Box 2</div>
  <div>Box 3</div>
  <div>Box 4</div>
  <div>Box 5</div>
</div>

.container {
  display: flex;
  justify-content: space-between;
}

<div class="container">
  <div>Box 1</div>
  <div>Box 2</div>
  <div>Box 3</div>
  <div>Box 4</div>
  <div>Box 5</div>
</div>

.container {
  display: flex;
  flex-direction: column;
  justify-content: space-between;
}

Keep practicing and experimenting with different values for a better understanding of Flexbox.