How to Create a 3-Column Layout with CSS Without Modifying HTML?

How to Create a 3-Column Layout with CSS Without Modifying HTML

Using HTML, you have a container containing three columns, each with a distinct class ("column-left", "column-center", and "column-right"). The goal is to arrange these columns horizontally without modifying the HTML structure through CSS.

SOLUTION

To achieve this desired layout, incorporate the following CSS rules:

.column-left {
  float: left;
  width: 33.333%;
}

.column-right {
  float: right;
  width: 33.333%;
}

.column-center {
  display: inline-block;
  width: 33.333%;
}

This CSS ensures that the left and right columns float to their respective sides of the container, while the center column is displayed in the remaining space.

DEMO

<div class="container">
  <div class="column-center">Column center</div>
  <div class="column-left">Column left</div>
  <div class="column-right">Column right</div>
</div>

ENHANCED GRID SYSTEM

To extend this approach to multiple columns, consider creating a simple grid system. For a five-column layout, for instance, the following CSS would suffice:

.column {
  float: left;
  position: relative;
  width: 20%;
  
  /*for demo purposes only */
  background: #f2f2f2;
  border: 1px solid #e6e6e6;
  box-sizing: border-box;
}

.column-offset-1 {
  left: 20%;
}
.column-offset-2 {
  left: 40%;
}
.column-offset-3 {
  left: 60%;
}
.column-offset-4 {
  left: 80%;
}

.column-inset-1 {
  left: -20%;
}
.column-inset-2 {
  left: -40%;
}
.column-inset-3 {
  left: -60%;
}
.column-inset-4 {
  left: -80%;
}

With this enhanced grid, you can position columns precisely by applying appropriate offset or inset classes.

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