CSS Layout - float and clear

The float property specifies whether or not an element should float.

The clear property is used to control the behavior of floating elements.

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The float Property

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

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

Example

img {
    float: right;
    margin: 0 0 10px 10px;
}

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The clear Property

The clear property is used to control the behavior of floating elements.

Elements after a floating element will flow around it. To avoid this, use the clear property.

The clear property specifies on which sides of an element floating elements are not allowed to float:

Example

div {
    clear: left;
}

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The clearfix Hack - overflow: auto;

If an element is taller than the element containing it, and it is floated, it will overflow outside of its container.

Then we can add overflow: auto; to the containing element to fix this problem:

Example

.clearfix {
    overflow: auto;
}

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Web Layout Example

It is common to do entire web layouts using the float property:

Example

div {
    border: 3px solid blue;
}

.clearfix {
    overflow: auto;
}

nav {
    float: left;
    width: 200px;
    border: 3px solid #8AC007;
}
section {
    margin-left: 206px;
    border: 3px solid red;
}

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All CSS Float Properties

Property	Description	Values
clear	Specifies on which sides of an element where floating elements are not allowed to float	left right both none inherit
float	Specifies whether or not an element should float	left right none inherit