CSS Layout – float and clear

The CSS float property specifies how an element should float.

The CSS clear property specifies what elements can float beside the cleared element and on which side.

The float Property

The float property is used for positioning and formatting content e.g. let an image float left to the text in a container.

The float property can have one of the following values:

  • left – The element floats to the left of its container
  • right – The element floats to the right of its container
  • none – The element does not float (will be displayed just where it occurs in the text). This is default
  • inherit – The element inherits the float value of its parent

In its simplest use, the float property can be used to wrap text around images.

Example – float: right;

The following example specifies that an image should float to the right in a text.

Example

img {
  float: right;
}

Example – float: left;

The following example specifies that an image should float to the left in a text.

Example

img {
  float: left;
}

Example – No float

In the following example the image will be displayed just where it occurs in the text (float: none;).

Example

img {
  float: none;
}

Example – Float Next To Each Other

Normally div elements will be displayed on top of each other. However, if we use float: left we can let elements float next to each other:

Example

div {
  float: left;
  padding: 15px;
}

.div1 {
  background: red;
}

.div2 {
  background: yellow;
}

.div3 {
  background: green;
}