Flexbox

CSS place-self Property

Shorthand for align-self and justify-self on a single item

Syntax

CSS
place-self: auto | <align-self> <justify-self>?;

Values

ValueDescription
autoUses parent's alignment
centerCenters the item on both axes
start endStart vertically, end horizontally

Example

CSS
.centered-item {
  place-self: center;
}

Understanding CSS place-self

The CSS place-self property shorthand for align-self and justify-self on a single item. 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 place-self to values such as auto, center, start end, 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 place-self property include responsive web design, component-based layouts, and creating visually consistent interfaces across devices. It works closely with related properties like align-self, justify-self, place-items to achieve complex styling effects. Understanding how these properties interact helps you write cleaner, more maintainable stylesheets.

Browser support for place-self 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.placeSelf or the CSS custom properties (variables) approach for theming.

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