Why Doesn't `margin: 0 auto` Center My Element?

Why Margin: 0 Auto Isn't Centering Your Element

When attempting to align an element horizontally using the margin: 0 auto property, it's crucial to specify the width of the element you're centering, not the parent element.

Consider the following situation: You have a parent container element (#header) with a defined width and an unordered list (

) within it. The
element should be centered horizontally within the #header div by applying margin: 0 auto. However, if you don't specify the width of the
element, it won't center within the parent container.

To resolve this issue, add a width property to the

element, for example:

#header ul {
  margin: 0 auto;
  width: 90%;
}

This assigns a width of 90% to the

element, causing it to center within the #header div.

Updated CSS for Improved Layout (Edit):

#header ul {
  list-style: none;
  margin: 0 auto;
  width: 90%;
}

#header ul li {
  color: #CCCCCC;
  display: inline;
  font-size: 20px;
  padding-right: 20px;
}

These revised styles ensure that the

element is centered and that its list items are displayed inline, removing any problems caused by using float: left; within the
and avoiding the doubling of horizontal margins in older versions of Internet Explorer.

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