Flexbox-Util v1.5

A utility based Flexbox css class-helper library to help take the guess work out of flexbox.

Author: Sean Becker : Rabbitwerks Javascript Year: 2020

Getting Started

This project is currently in the intermediate stages. To use, simply download the repo zip and copy out the flexbox-util.css file into the css folder of your project, then link to flexbox-util.css in your markup.
Using this library is very straight forward and is intended to be explicit in class names for anyone not familiar with the library to understand as well.

First Steps

Each parent element you want to apply flexbox to will get the .flexbox class. This defaults to a standard assignment of display: flex to the parent element, thus rendering itself as a flex container and any child elements inside as flex items.

Each child will assume its explicit widths/heights if set using css. If no explicit sizing is defined, the helper classes .flex-1 .flex-2 .flex-3 etc.. will determine the flex-item sizes implicitly, by taking up that available space in accordance with the rest of the flex items sizes, and parent size.

These utility classes will work across any html elements.

Flexbox works on a ratio basis. This means that the flex items, if not explicitly sized, will take up the available space according to their ratio amount in conjunction with the other flex items.

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Going Further

So you have flexbox displaying your flex items now, great! Lets take a little more control. You can align your flex-items spacings automatically by using the flexbox-space-* classes. These classes will justify the content along the X axis of the flex-flow.

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CURRENT CLASS LIST

.flexbox | Applies the rule display: flex to the target element. Can be used in parent and child elements, if nested, in sequential order.

.flexdir-row | Applies the standard css rule of flex-direction: row to the target element and changes the flex direction to row (horizontal).

.flexdir-rowrev | Applies the css rule flex-direction: row-reverse to the target element and changes the flex direction to row (horizontal), and reversed item display order.

.flexdir-col | Applies the css rule flex-direction: column to the target element and changes the flex direction to column (vertical).

.flexdir-colrev | Applies the css rule flex-direction: column-reverse to the target element and changes the flex-direction to column (vertical), and reversed item display order.

.flex-[1-20] | Applies the css rule flex and the flex amount to the applied element.

.flex-[1-20]i | Forces the css rule flex and the flex amount to the applied element using the !important css modifier.

.flexgap -[1-7] | Applies a custom flexgap css rule group to the parent element of the target elements. Works in conjunction with .flexbox class.

.flex-center | Sets the properites of the flex items inside a flex container to justify-content: center and align-items: center. (horizontally and vertically)

Order of Sequence

It is best practice to follow these conventions to ensure proper behavior from css rules.

• Parent containers of flex displays must have the .flexbox class on it, or a class that apllies flexbox with other properties.
• Children with inherit or auto widthd must have a .flex-[1-15] class for sizing. Default to .flex-1
• Nested flex displays must be applied after the current elements child-flex properties are applied.
• e.g. class="... flex-1 flexbox"
  • where .flex-1 is the current element sizing and we are setting the contents inside it as display: flex.
• each element nested as a flex container can have an independant flew-flow from its parent by applying the .flexdir-* class after the .flexbox
  • e.g. class="... flex-1 flexbox flexdir-col"
  • where .flexdir-col is changing the nested flex containers flex direction to column (vertical)

Flexgap

There is a customized "flex-gap" concept in this library. Think of almost like the effect that using grid-gap for CSS Grid would give you, this replicates the gap effect up to 2.5rems. The flexgap properties will space out each flex item according from each other.

Currently flexgap is only supported for use with flex directions row and column. Row reverse and column reverse will come in a later update.

Flex Transition

These classes are for transitioning the flex css property. Each class increases the duration by 100ms until reaching a 1s max at the fxt-10 class. To apply the transition the class set .fxt-[1-10] is used. Where the transition class prefix is .fxt- and the following number represents the duration.

_Keep in mind that this just sets a transition effect on the flex items if their flex amount changes or if they are externally transformed in css.

Shorthand Classes

This library also includes shorthand classes to keep your markup as clean and clutter free as possible. For example, the class .flexbox is shortend to .fxbx; .flexdir-colrev is shortend to .fd-cr.

Currently there are only shorthand classes for the most commonly used from this library, the full list will be coming in a future update.