CSS Units – When to Use rem, em, px, and more - codewithtanveer


CSS Units – When to Use rem, em, px, and more - codewithtanveer

When it comes to CSS units, understanding when to use `rem`, `em`, `px`, and others can significantly impact your design's responsiveness and scalability. Let's break down the most commonly used units:

CSS Units – When to Use rem, em, px, and more - codewithtanveer


1. Pixels (`px`):

  `px` is an absolute unit and is commonly used for defining sizes that need to be precise.

    It's ideal for elements like borders, shadows, and small details that shouldn't scale with the text.


2. Relative Units (`em`, `rem`):

   `em` is relative to the font size of its parent element. For example, if the parent element has a font size of 16px, `1em` is equal to 16px.

   `rem` (root em) is similar to `em`, but it's relative to the root element (usually the `<html>` tag), making it more predictable and easier to manage in complex layouts.

   Both `em` and `rem` are great for making scalable designs, especially for typography and layouts that need to adjust based on the user's font preferences.


3. Viewport Units (`vw`, `vh`, `vmin`, `vmax`):

  `vw` and `vh` represent 1% of the viewport width and height, respectively. They're useful for creating responsive designs that adapt to different screen sizes.

  `vmin` and `vmax` represent 1% of the viewport's smaller and larger dimension, respectively. They're handy for situations where you want elements to scale proportionally but also have a maximum or minimum size.


4. Percentages (%): 

Percentages are relative to the parent element's size. They're versatile and commonly used for creating fluid layouts that adjust based on the container's dimensions.


Here's an example illustrating the use of these units:


css

/* Using px */

.container {

  width: 960px;

  margin: 0 auto;

}


/* Using em */

.parent {

  font-size: 16px;

}

.child {

  font-size: 1.5em; /* 1.5 times the font size of the parent */

}


/* Using rem */

:root {

  font-size: 16px;

}

.heading {

  font-size: 2rem; /* 2 times the font size of the root element */

}


/* Using viewport units */

.section {

  width: 80vw; /* 80% of the viewport width */

  height: 50vh; /* 50% of the viewport height */

}


/* Using percentages */

.column {

  width: 50%; /* 50% of the parent element's width */

}



By mastering these units and knowing when to use each, you can create flexible, responsive designs that adapt well to various devices and user preferences.

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