CSS - Max Inline Size

Syntax and Values

The max-inline-size property follows this syntax:

max-inline-size: <length> | <percentage> | none | max-content | min-content | fit-content | fill-available;

The values for max-inline-size are:

If both max-inline-size and width are set for an element, the max-inline-size value will take precedence if the width value is larger.

Applying Max Inline Size

The max-inline-size property is useful for setting a maximum width for inline elements and controlling their layout. By applying max-inline-size, you can limit how wide an inline element can grow, preventing it from expanding beyond a certain size.

To set a maximum width for an inline element, you can use the max-inline-size property with a specific length or percentage value.

.inline-element {
  max-inline-size: 300px;
}

In this case, the inline element with the class .inline-element will have a maximum width of 300 pixels. If the content inside the element is wider than 300 pixels, it will wrap to the next line.

You can also use percentage values to set the maximum width relative to the containing block's width.

.inline-element {
  max-inline-size: 50%;
}

Here, the inline element will have a maximum width of 50% of its containing block's width.

By controlling the maximum width of inline elements, you can create a more organized and appealing layout. It helps prevent inline elements from stretching too wide and maintains a consistent design.

You can combine max-inline-size with other CSS properties to achieve specific layout goals. For instance, you can use max-inline-size together with min-inline-size to set a range for the width of an inline element. This allows the element to grow and shrink within a specified range based on its content.

.inline-element {
  min-inline-size: 200px;
  max-inline-size: 400px;
}

In this example, the inline element will have a minimum width of 200 pixels and a maximum width of 400 pixels. It will expand to fit its content within that range.

You can also use max-inline-size in combination with properties like text-align, padding, and margin to further style and position inline elements within their maximum width constraints.

By applying max-inline-size and combining it with other CSS properties, you gain more control over the layout and appearance of inline elements, enabling you to create well-structured and appealing designs.

Responsive Design

The max-inline-size property plays a big role in making responsive layouts. By using max-inline-size, you can adapt the width of elements based on different screen sizes and devices. This helps create layouts that look good and work well on desktop computers, tablets, and phones.

To use max-inline-size for responsive design, you can set different values for the property using media queries. Media queries let you apply CSS styles based on the screen size or device type.

.content {
  max-inline-size: 800px;
}

@media screen and (max-width: 768px) {
  .content {
    max-inline-size: 90%;
  }
}

@media screen and (max-width: 480px) {
  .content {
    max-inline-size: 100%;
  }
}

The .content element has a max-inline-size of 800 pixels by default. However, when the screen width is 768 pixels or less, the max-inline-size changes to 90% of the screen width. This makes sure the content fits well on smaller screens like tablets.

For even smaller screens, like phones with a width of 480 pixels or less, the max-inline-size is set to 100%. This means the content will take up the full width of the screen, providing a better reading experience on small devices.

Examples and Use Cases

.blog-post {
  max-inline-size: 800px;
  margin: 0 auto;
}

.button {
  display: inline-block;
  padding: 10px 20px;
  background-color: #007bff;
  color: #fff;
  text-align: center;
  max-inline-size: 100%;
}

@media screen and (min-width: 768px) {
  .button {
    max-inline-size: 200px;
  }
}