TaskCenter an h1 inside a 200px-tall container. .hero: display: grid, place-items: center, min-height: 200px, background: #1e1e2e, color: white.
place-items: centering, shorthand
75 XP5 min
Theory
Grid's "align both axes" shortcut
.container {
display: grid;
place-items: center; /* center each cell's content horizontally AND vertically */
}place-items is shorthand for align-items (vertical) + justify-items (horizontal) inside grid cells.
Most-used pattern: dead-center
/* A perfectly centered element, no flex needed */
.center-everything {
display: grid;
place-items: center;
min-height: 100vh;
}One declaration. The child is centered both ways. Compare to the flexbox version (display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center) β equally good, just slightly shorter syntax with grid.
place-content vs place-items
place-itemsβ how each cell's CHILD is aligned WITHIN its cell.place-contentβ how the GRID itself is aligned within the container (matters when the grid is smaller than the container).
For a grid that fills its container (the common case), place-content doesn't matter.
Per-cell override: place-self
A single grid item can opt out:
.special { place-self: start end; } /* top-right corner of its cell */π
Sign up to start coding
Theory is open to everyone. The interactive editor, live preview, and check are unlocked with a 7-day free trial β card required, cancel anytime.
Sign up β free trial βFirst 10 lessons in each track are free. No card needed for those.