Question

Utilities for controlling the display box type of an element.

Quick reference

Class	Properties
block	display: block;
inline-block	display: inline-block;
inline	display: inline;
flex	display: flex;
inline-flex	display: inline-flex;
table	display: table;
inline-table	display: inline-table;
table-caption	display: table-caption;
table-cell	display: table-cell;
table-column	display: table-column;
table-column-group	display: table-column-group;
table-footer-group	display: table-footer-group;
table-header-group	display: table-header-group;
table-row-group	display: table-row-group;
table-row	display: table-row;
flow-root	display: flow-root;
grid	display: grid;
inline-grid	display: inline-grid;
contents	display: contents;
list-item	display: list-item;
hidden	display: none;

Basic usage

Block & Inline

Use the inline, inline-block, and block utilities to control the flow of text and elements.

When controlling the flow of text, using the CSS property display: inline will cause the text inside the element to wrap normally.

While using the property display: inline-block will wrap the element to prevent the text inside from extending beyond its parent.

Lastly, using the property display: block will put the element on its own line and fill its parent.

<div>
  When controlling the flow of text, using the CSS property
  <span class="inline">display: inline</span>
  will cause the text inside the element to wrap normally.

  While using the property <span class="inline-block">display: inline-block</span>
  will wrap the element to prevent the text inside from extending beyond its parent.

  Lastly, using the property <span class="block">display: block</span>
  will put the element on its own line and fill its parent.
</div>

Flow Root

Use the flow-root utility to create a block-level element with its own block formatting context.

Well, let me tell you something, funny boy. Y'know that little stamp, the one that says "New York Public Library"? Well that may not mean anything to you, but that means a lot to me. One whole hell of a lot. Sure, go ahead, laugh if you want to. I've seen your type before: Flashy, making the scene, flaunting convention. Yeah, I know what you're thinking. What's this guy making such a big stink about old library books? Well, let me give you a hint, junior.

<div class="p-4">
  <div class="flow-root ...">
    <div class="my-4 ...">Well, let me tell you something, ...</div>
  </div>
  <div class="flow-root ...">
    <div class="my-4 ...">Sure, go ahead, laugh if you want...</div>
  </div>
</div>

Flex

Use the flex utility to create a block-level flex container.

Andrew Alfred Technical advisor

<div class="flex items-center">
  <img src="path/to/image.jpg">
  <div>
    <strong>Andrew Alfred</strong>
    <span>Technical advisor</span>
  </div>
</div>

Inline Flex

Use the inline-flex utility to create an inline flex container that flows with text.

Today I spent most of the day researching ways to take advantage of the fact that bottles can be returned for 10 cents in Michigan, but only 5 cents here. Kramer keeps telling me there is no way to make it work, that he has run the numbers on every possible approach, but I just have to believe there's a way to make it work, there's simply too much opportunity here.

<p>
  Today I spent most of the day researching ways to ...
  <span class="inline-flex items-baseline">
    <img src="path/to/image.jpg" alt="" class="self-center w-5 h-5 rounded-full mx-1" />
    <span>Kramer</span>
  </span>
  keeps telling me there is no way to make it work, that ...
</p>

Grid

Use the grid utility to create a grid container.

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09

<div class="grid gap-4 grid-cols-3 grid-rows-3">
  <!-- ... -->
</div>

Inline Grid

Use the inline-grid utility to create an inline grid container.

01 02 03 04 05 06 01 02 03 04 05 06

<span class="inline-grid grid-cols-3 gap-4">
  <span>01</span>
  <span>02</span>
  <span>03</span>
  <span>04</span>
  <span>05</span>
  <span>06</span>
</span>
<span class="inline-grid grid-cols-3 gap-4">
  <span>01</span>
  <span>02</span>
  <span>03</span>
  <span>04</span>
  <span>05</span>
  <span>06</span>
</span>

Contents

Use the contents utility to create a “phantom” container whose children act like direct children of the parent.

01 02 03 04

<div class="flex ...">
  <div class="flex-1 ...">01</div>
  <div class="contents">
    <div class="flex-1 ...">02</div>
    <div class="flex-1 ...">03</div>
  </div>
  <div class="flex-1 ...">04</div>
</div>

Table

Use the table, table-row, table-cell, table-caption, table-column, table-column-group, table-header-group, table-row-group, and table-footer-group utilities to create elements that behave like their respective table elements.

Song Artist Year The Sliding Mr. Bones (Next Stop, Pottersville) Malcolm Lockyer 1961 Witchy Woman The Eagles 1972 Shining Star Earth, Wind, and Fire 1975

<div class="table w-full ...">
  <div class="table-header-group ...">
    <div class="table-row">
      <div class="table-cell text-left ...">Song</div>
      <div class="table-cell text-left ...">Artist</div>
      <div class="table-cell text-left ...">Year</div>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="table-row-group">
    <div class="table-row">
      <div class="table-cell ...">The Sliding Mr. Bones (Next Stop, Pottersville)</div>
      <div class="table-cell ...">Malcolm Lockyer</div>
      <div class="table-cell ...">1961</div>
    </div>
    <div class="table-row">
      <div class="table-cell ...">Witchy Woman</div>
      <div class="table-cell ...">The Eagles</div>
      <div class="table-cell ...">1972</div>
    </div>
    <div class="table-row">
      <div class="table-cell ...">Shining Star</div>
      <div class="table-cell ...">Earth, Wind, and Fire</div>
      <div class="table-cell ...">1975</div>
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

Hidden

Use the hidden utility to set an element to display: none and remove it from the page layout (compare with invisible from the visibility documentation).

01 02 03

<div class="flex ...">
  <div class="hidden ...">01</div>
  <div>02</div>
  <div>03</div>
</div>

---

Applying conditionally

Hover, focus, and other states

Tailwind lets you conditionally apply utility classes in different states using variant modifiers. For example, use hover:inline-flex to only apply the inline-flex utility on hover.

<div class="flex hover:inline-flex">
  <!-- ... -->
</div>

For a complete list of all available state modifiers, check out the Hover, Focus, & Other States documentation.

Breakpoints and media queries

You can also use variant modifiers to target media queries like responsive breakpoints, dark mode, prefers-reduced-motion, and more. For example, use md:inline-flex to apply the inline-flex utility at only medium screen sizes and above.

<div class="flex md:inline-flex">
  <!-- ... -->
</div>

To learn more, check out the documentation on Responsive Design, Dark Mode and other media query modifiers.