grid-auto-flow

Summary

The grid-auto-flow CSS property controls how the auto-placement algorithm works, specifying exactly how auto-placed items get flowed into the grid.

Syntax

/* Keyword values */
grid-auto-flow: row;
grid-auto-flow: column;
grid-auto-flow: dense;
grid-auto-flow: row dense;
grid-auto-flow: column dense;

/* Global values */
grid-auto-flow: inherit;
grid-auto-flow: initial;
grid-auto-flow: unset;

Values

row

Is a keyword specifying that the auto-placement algorithm places items by filling each row in turn, adding new rows as necessary. If neither row nor column is provided, row is assumed.

column

Is a keyword specifying that the auto-placement algorithm places items by filling each column in turn, adding new columns as necessary.

dense

Is a keyword specifying that the auto-placement algorithm uses a “dense” packing algorithm, which attempts to fill in holes earlier in the grid if smaller items come up later. This may cause items to appear out-of-order, when doing so would fill in holes left by larger items.

If omitted, a “sparse” algorithm is used, where the placement algorithm only ever moves “forward” in the grid when placing items, never backtracking to fill holes. This ensures that all of the auto-placed items appear “in order”, even if this leaves holes that could have been filled by later items.

Formal syntax

[ row | column ] || dense

Example

HTML Content

<div id="grid">
  <div id="item1"></div>
  <div id="item2"></div>
  <div id="item3"></div>
  <div id="item4"></div>
  <div id="item5"></div>
</div>
<select id="direction" onchange="changeGridAutoFlow()">
  <option value="row">row</option>
  <option value="column">column</option>
</select>
<input id="dense" type="checkbox" onchange="changeGridAutoFlow()">
<label for="dense">dense</label>

CSS Content

#grid {
  height: 200px;
  width: 200px;
  display: grid;
  grid-gap: 10px;
  grid-template: repeat(4, 1fr) / repeat(2, 1fr);
  grid-auto-flow: column;  /* or 'row', 'row dense', 'column dense' */
}

#item1 {
  background-color: lime;
  grid-row-start: 3;
}

#item2 {
  background-color: yellow;
}

#item3 {
  background-color: blue;
}

#item4 {
  grid-column-start: 2;
  background-color: red;
}

#item5 {
  background-color: aqua;
}

function changeGridAutoFlow() {
  var grid = document.getElementById("grid");
  var direction = document.getElementById("direction");
  var dense = document.getElementById("dense");
  var gridAutoFlow = direction.value === "column" ? "row" : "column";

  if (dense.checked) {
    gridAutoFlow += " dense";
  }

  grid.style.gridAutoFlow = gridAutoFlow;
}

Specifications

Browser compatibility

[1] Implemented behind the experimental Web Platform features flag in chrome://flags.

[2] Implemented behind the preference layout.css.grid.enabled, defaulting to false.

See also

• Related CSS properties: grid-auto-rows, grid-auto-columns, grid