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CSS CSS Basics (2014) Basic Layout box-sizing and max-width

What does a max-width of 100% mean in this case?

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3 Answers

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,248 Points

You use settings like "max-width" because you don't know what the container width will be, but you want to be sure your element will fit inside it. For example, if you put this setting on an image, and the container size is too small for it, the browser will shrink it down to make it fit.

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Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,248 Points

It will never be any larger than the parent, but it could still be smaller.

If you want it always that size, use "width" instead of "max-width".

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Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,248 Points

That only happened before the "max-width" setting was added. After that, the images shrunk with the window.

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Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,248 Points

Images have an intrinsic size in pixels. By default, they will be displayed at their natural size.