CSS flex-direction Property
Defines the direction flex items are placed in the flex container
Syntax
flex-direction: row | row-reverse | column | column-reverse;Values
| Value | Description |
|---|---|
| row | Left to right in ltr (default) |
| row-reverse | Right to left in ltr |
| column | Top to bottom |
| column-reverse | Bottom to top |
Example
.stack {
display: flex;
flex-direction: column;
gap: 1rem;
}Understanding CSS flex-direction
The CSS flex-direction property defines the direction flex items are placed in the flex container. As part of the Flexbox module in CSS, it is one of the most commonly used properties for controlling the visual presentation of web pages.
You can set flex-direction to values such as row, row-reverse, column, column-reverse, among others. Each value changes how the browser renders the affected element, giving you fine-grained control over your page layout and design. Choosing the right value depends on the specific design requirements of your project.
Common use cases for the flex-direction property include responsive web design, component-based layouts, and creating visually consistent interfaces across devices. It works closely with related properties like flex-wrap, flex-flow, display to achieve complex styling effects. Understanding how these properties interact helps you write cleaner, more maintainable stylesheets.
Browser support for flex-direction is excellent across all modern browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. For older browsers, consider using fallback values or progressive enhancement strategies. The property can also be set dynamically via JavaScript using element.style.flexDirection or the CSS custom properties (variables) approach for theming.
Related Properties
flex-wrapControls whether flex items are forced onto one line or can wrap onto multiple lines
flex-flowShorthand for flex-direction and flex-wrap properties
displayControls how an element generates display boxes in the document flow
justify-contentDefines how the browser distributes space between and around flex items along the main axis
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