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grid-auto-flow

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This is an experimental technology
Because this technology's specification has not stabilized, check the compatibility table for usage in various browsers. Also note that the syntax and behavior of an experimental technology is subject to change in future versions of browsers as the specification changes.

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.

Initial valuerow
Applies togrid containers
Inheritedno
Mediavisual
Computed valueas specified
Animation typediscrete
Canonical orderthe unique non-ambiguous order defined by the formal grammar

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;
}

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
CSS Grid Layout
The definition of 'grid-auto-flow' in that specification.
Candidate Recommendation Initial definition

Browser compatibility

Feature Chrome Firefox (Gecko) Internet Explorer Edge Opera Safari
Basic support 29.0[1] 40.0 (40.0)[2] No support No support 28.0[1] Nightly build-webkit
Feature Android Firefox Mobile (Gecko) IE Mobile Opera Mobile Safari Mobile
Basic support No support No support No support No support No support

[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

Document Tags and Contributors

 Contributors to this page: rolfedh, Sebastianz
 Last updated by: rolfedh,