Misc

CSS resize Property

Sets whether an element is resizable and in which directions

Syntax

CSS
resize: none | both | horizontal | vertical | block | inline;

Values

ValueDescription
noneNot resizable (default for most elements)
bothResizable in both directions
horizontalOnly horizontally resizable
verticalOnly vertically resizable

Example

CSS
textarea {
  resize: vertical;
  min-height: 100px;
}

Understanding CSS resize

The CSS resize property sets whether an element is resizable and in which directions. As part of the Misc module in CSS, it is one of the most commonly used properties for controlling the visual presentation of web pages.

You can set resize to values such as none, both, horizontal, vertical, 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 resize property include responsive web design, component-based layouts, and creating visually consistent interfaces across devices. It works closely with related properties like overflow, min-width, min-height to achieve complex styling effects. Understanding how these properties interact helps you write cleaner, more maintainable stylesheets.

Browser support for resize 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.resize or the CSS custom properties (variables) approach for theming.

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