Masonry Layout is Now grid-lanes | CSS-Tricks

Masonry Layout is Now grid-lanes

The long-awaited CSS masonry layout is finally nearing reality with the agreed-upon syntax of display: grid-lanes. Discussions surrounding the ideal implementation began as early as 2017, driven by the need for a native solution to achieve Pinterest-like layouts without relying on JavaScript or complex hacks.

Why This Matters

Current approaches to masonry layouts often involve JavaScript libraries or convoluted CSS Grid workarounds, introducing performance overhead or requiring detailed knowledge of item dimensions. These methods fall short of the ideal of a simple, declarative CSS solution, and can be costly to maintain and scale. The lack of a native solution has driven the creation of popular libraries like Masonry.js, but a CSS-native approach promises improved performance and accessibility.

Key Insights

• 5+ years of debate: The CSS Working Group spent over five years discussing the best way to implement masonry layout.
• Grid templating reuse: The final decision leverages existing grid templating and placement properties, avoiding the creation of a new display value.
• Browser implementation: Chrome, Edge, Safari, and Firefox are already working on implementing grid-lanes, with Chromium having previewed a display: masonry implementation previously.

Working Example

.masonry {
  display: grid-lanes;
}

Practical Applications

• E-commerce: Image galleries on e-commerce sites can utilize masonry layout to display products in an aesthetically pleasing and space-efficient manner.
• Pitfall: Relying on JavaScript-based masonry solutions can introduce performance bottlenecks and accessibility issues, especially on mobile devices.