Comments on: CSS floating and clearing http://www.robertnyman.com/2005/11/30/css-floating-and-clearing/ Web development and Internet trends Fri, 05 Dec 2008 11:29:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Robert Nyman http://www.robertnyman.com/2005/11/30/css-floating-and-clearing/#comment-3520 Robert Nyman Sun, 05 Mar 2006 20:23:17 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/2005/11/30/css-floating-and-clearing/#comment-3520 Boda, Well, there are many, so I can't really delve too deep here. But it's about having HTML/XHTML code with semantic value, making accessible and avoiding to have it littered with class names and such as well. It's also about total control, something you will never get with a table that has a built in behavior of adapting to its content in a way you can never fully control. However, when it comes to column layouts, using float and CSS doesn't always seem like the ultimate way of doing it, but it's the best we have as of today. Boda,

Well, there are many, so I can’t really delve too deep here. But it’s about having HTML/XHTML code with semantic value, making accessible and avoiding to have it littered with class names and such as well.

It’s also about total control, something you will never get with a table that has a built in behavior of adapting to its content in a way you can never fully control.

However, when it comes to column layouts, using float and CSS doesn’t always seem like the ultimate way of doing it, but it’s the best we have as of today.

]]> By: Boda http://www.robertnyman.com/2005/11/30/css-floating-and-clearing/#comment-3507 Boda Sat, 04 Mar 2006 23:24:54 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/2005/11/30/css-floating-and-clearing/#comment-3507 If it is so tricky, what is finally the advantage off a CSS layout over a table layout? If it is so tricky, what is finally the advantage off a CSS layout over a table layout?

]]> By: Robert Nyman http://www.robertnyman.com/2005/11/30/css-floating-and-clearing/#comment-1894 Robert Nyman Wed, 30 Nov 2005 16:45:01 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/2005/11/30/css-floating-and-clearing/#comment-1894 Tommy, Yep. Jeroen, I'd love to see such an article! Alessandro, Absolutely. But if you just want to float something that isn't 100% wide, I've come to the conclusion that a clearing element is the most consistent and stable solution. Tommy,

Yep.

Jeroen,

I’d love to see such an article!

Alessandro,

Absolutely.
But if you just want to float something that isn’t 100% wide, I’ve come to the conclusion that a clearing element is the most consistent and stable solution.

]]> By: Alessandro Fulciniti http://www.robertnyman.com/2005/11/30/css-floating-and-clearing/#comment-1893 Alessandro Fulciniti Wed, 30 Nov 2005 16:37:38 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/2005/11/30/css-floating-and-clearing/#comment-1893 Robert, sometimes it's also possible avoid the usage of an extra wrapper and the clear property by using just floats. An example of clearing without clear could be found in my article <a href="http://web-graphics.com/mtarchive/001622.php" rel="nofollow">How to style a restaurant menu with CSS</a>. Robert, sometimes it’s also possible avoid the usage of an extra wrapper and the clear property by using just floats. An example of clearing without clear could be found in my article How to style a restaurant menu with CSS.

]]> By: Jeroen Mulder http://www.robertnyman.com/2005/11/30/css-floating-and-clearing/#comment-1892 Jeroen Mulder Wed, 30 Nov 2005 09:26:20 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/2005/11/30/css-floating-and-clearing/#comment-1892 It's a common problem and I've had a draft <em>trying</em> to explain the whole clearing deal sitting in my system for months now, but it's such a situation dependant and complex thing. What surprised me the most is that even the most respectable bloggers who posted examples layouts using floats to create a multiple column layout, have failed to get the following message across: float your content area, as that's the most likely place you'll be needing to clear any elements. Clearing affects all elements that are floated before (in the source) in the same block context. It’s a common problem and I’ve had a draft trying to explain the whole clearing deal sitting in my system for months now, but it’s such a situation dependant and complex thing.

What surprised me the most is that even the most respectable bloggers who posted examples layouts using floats to create a multiple column layout, have failed to get the following message across: float your content area, as that’s the most likely place you’ll be needing to clear any elements. Clearing affects all elements that are floated before (in the source) in the same block context.

]]> By: Tommy Olsson http://www.robertnyman.com/2005/11/30/css-floating-and-clearing/#comment-1891 Tommy Olsson Wed, 30 Nov 2005 09:18:58 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/2005/11/30/css-floating-and-clearing/#comment-1891 This is a common pitfall, and the solution - as you've discovered - is to wrap the whole thing in a floated element. This is a common pitfall, and the solution - as you’ve discovered - is to wrap the whole thing in a floated element.

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