CSS Academy · Lesson

Display Grid and Template Columns Rows

Enable CSS Grid and define column and row tracks using grid-template-columns and rows.

Lesson 1 of 413 steps

Display Grid and Template Columns Rows is a free CSS Academy lesson on CoddyKit. This is lesson 1 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the CSS Academy learning path, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app. The CSS Academy course includes 4 lessons in total.

Enabling CSS Grid

CSS Grid is activated with display: grid on a container. Its direct children become grid items automatically placed into cells.

<div class="layout">
  <div style="background:#4f8cff22;border:1px solid #4f8cff;padding:12px;border-radius:4px;">Item A</div>
  <div style="background:#ffb84d22;border:1px solid #ffb84d;padding:12px;border-radius:4px;">Item B</div>
  <div style="background:#7ee78722;border:1px solid #7ee787;padding:12px;border-radius:4px;">Item C</div>
</div>

grid-template-columns

grid-template-columns defines the number and size of columns. Each value creates one column track.

<div class="layout">
  <div style="background:#4f8cff22;border:1px solid #4f8cff;padding:12px;border-radius:4px;">200px column</div>
  <div style="background:#ffb84d22;border:1px solid #ffb84d;padding:12px;border-radius:4px;">1fr column</div>
  <div style="background:#7ee78722;border:1px solid #7ee787;padding:12px;border-radius:4px;">1fr column</div>
</div>

grid-template-rows

grid-template-rows defines explicit row tracks. Items beyond defined rows create implicit rows.

<div class="layout" style="min-height:220px;">
  <div style="grid-column:span 2;background:#4f8cff22;border:1px solid #4f8cff;padding:8px;">Header (row: auto)</div>
  <div style="background:#ffb84d22;border:1px solid #ffb84d;padding:8px;">Main left (row: 1fr)</div>
  <div style="background:#ffb84d22;border:1px solid #ffb84d;padding:8px;">Main right (row: 1fr)</div>
  <div style="grid-column:span 2;background:#7ee78722;border:1px solid #34c759;padding:8px;">Footer (row: auto)</div>
</div>

Column and Row Tracks

Each value in grid-template-columns or grid-template-rows creates one track. Tracks can use any size unit:

Fixed: 200px, 10rem
Flexible: 1fr
Content-based: auto, min-content, max-content

The fr Unit

fr (fraction unit) distributes available space after fixed sizes are subtracted. 1fr 2fr creates columns in a 1:2 ratio.

<div class="grid">
  <div style="background:#4f8cff22;border:1px solid #4f8cff;padding:12px;border-radius:4px;">300px fixed</div>
  <div style="background:#ffb84d22;border:1px solid #ffb84d;padding:12px;border-radius:4px;">1fr (1x share)</div>
  <div style="background:#7ee78722;border:1px solid #7ee787;padding:12px;border-radius:4px;">2fr (2x share)</div>
</div>

Auto in Tracks

auto in a track sizes to fit the content. As a column, it takes the minimum needed by its widest cell; as a row, it fits the tallest cell.

<div class="sidebar-layout">
  <div style="background:#4f8cff22;border:1px solid #4f8cff;padding:8px;">Sidebar (auto width)</div>
  <div style="background:#ffb84d22;border:1px solid #ffb84d;padding:8px;">Main content (1fr fills the rest)</div>
</div>

Page Layout Example

A common three-row page layout with header, main, and footer:

<div class="page">
  <header style="background:#4f8cff22;border:1px solid #4f8cff;padding:8px;">Header</header>
  <main style="background:#ffb84d22;border:1px solid #ffb84d;padding:8px;">Main (fills available space)</main>
  <footer style="background:#7ee78722;border:1px solid #34c759;padding:8px;">Footer</footer>
</div>

grid-template Shorthand

grid-template combines rows and columns:

<div class="grid" style="display:grid;min-height:180px;">
  <div style="background:#4f8cff22;border:1px solid #4f8cff;padding:8px;">Header</div>
  <div style="background:#ffb84d22;border:1px solid #ffb84d;padding:8px;">Main</div>
  <div style="background:#7ee78722;border:1px solid #34c759;padding:8px;">Footer</div>
</div>

Inspecting Grid in DevTools

Chrome and Firefox DevTools can overlay grid track lines on the page. Click the grid badge in the Elements panel to visualize columns, rows, gaps, and named areas.

Grid vs Flexbox Choice

Use Grid when you need to control both rows and columns simultaneously. Use Flexbox for one-dimensional layouts (a row of items or a column of items). Many layouts use both.

Line Numbers

Grid automatically numbers its lines starting from 1. You can reference these numbers to place items manually. Column lines run 1 to n+1 where n is the column count.

<div style="display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(3, 1fr);gap:8px;">
  <div class="header" style="grid-column:1 / -1;background:#4f8cff22;border:1px solid #4f8cff;padding:8px;">Header — spans all columns (grid-column: 1 / -1)</div>
  <div style="background:#ffb84d22;border:1px solid #ffb84d;padding:8px;">Item 2</div>
  <div style="background:#7ee78722;border:1px solid #34c759;padding:8px;">Item 3</div>
</div>

Quick Check

What does grid-template-columns: 200px 1fr 2fr create?

Answer it in the interactive lesson

Recap

display: grid creates a grid container. grid-template-columns and grid-template-rows define tracks. The fr unit distributes remaining space proportionally. auto sizes to content. Grid is ideal for two-dimensional layout control.

Free to start

Learn CSS with an AI tutor — free

Write and run real code in your browser, get instant help from a 24/7 AI tutor, and pick up where you left off on the web or in the app.

Courses: 40
Lessons: 159

Start learning free View the full course

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the “Display Grid and Template Columns Rows” lesson free?

Yes — the full text of “Display Grid and Template Columns Rows” is free to read here on the web. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the CSS Academy course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO. The CSS Academy course includes 4 lessons in total.

What will I learn in “Display Grid and Template Columns Rows”?

Enable CSS Grid and define column and row tracks using grid-template-columns and rows. You practise CSS Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.

Do I need any experience to start CSS Academy?

No prior experience is required. CSS Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace. This is lesson 1 of 4.

How long does the “Display Grid and Template Columns Rows” lesson take?

Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.

Can I write and run code in this CSS Academy lesson?

Yes. Every CSS Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.

All lessons in this course

← Back to CSS Academy