Why Do Inline-Block Elements Wrap at 100% Width, But Not at 99%?

In-line Blocks Overlapping: Inline-block Elements Display Dilemma

In HTML, when one aims to achieve a dual-column layout with equal 50% width for each column, using the property 'display: inline-block' seems like a straightforward alternative to traditional float methods. However, under certain conditions, this approach can lead to unforeseen consequences.

Specifically, when inline blocks consume 99% of the total width, they behave as expected, displaying side-by-side horizontally. However, once the total width reaches 100%, the second inline block unexpectedly wraps to the following line.

Reason Behind the Discrepancy

This peculiar behavior stems from the fact that inline blocks inherit white-space properties from the HTML. By default, the white-space character exists between the elements, and inline-block elements account for this space in their width calculation. Consequently, when the total width is precisely 100%, including the white-space, the second inline block exceeds the actual content width, causing it to wrap to the next line.

Resolution: Removing the White-space

To resolve this issue, one must eliminate the white-space between the inline-block elements. By doing so, the calculation of the width attribute becomes more accurate, preventing the second inline block from extending beyond the content width.

Example Code

To illustrate the solution, consider the following HTML code:

<div>

By removing the white-space between the divs, we achieve the desired behavior of two inline blocks displaying side-by-side within a 50% width for each, even when the total width is 100%.

Conclusion

Understanding the impact of white-space on inline-block elements is crucial in CSS layout. By eliminating any unnecessary white-space between such elements, developers can ensure that inline blocks behave as expected, especially when facing the challenge of creating a dual-column layout with equal width for both columns.

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