Why Does `margin-top` Work with `inline-block` but Not `inline` in CSS?

Unveiling the Discrepancy: Why Margin-Top Works with Inline-Block but Not Inline

In the realm of CSS styling, the interplay between display properties and margin behavior can sometimes lead to perplexing scenarios. One such example is the curious case of margin-top working with inline-block but not inline.

Consider the following CSS snippet:

h1 {
    display: inline;
    margin-top: 25px;
}

When applied to the <hl> element, this declaration fails to create a top-margin. However, if the display property is changed to inline-block, the margin-top suddenly takes effect.

To unravel this enigma, we delve into the depths of the CSS2 specification. According to Section 9.2.4, inline-block elements generate an inline-level block container, essentially treating the element as an atomic inline-level box. In contrast, inline elements generate one or more inline boxes, as stated in Section 9.2.4.

Crucially, Section 9.4.2 of the CSS2 specification elucidates that inline elements only respect horizontal margins, disregarding vertical margins. Block-level elements, on the other hand, respect both horizontal and vertical margins.

Therefore, the discrepancy between inline and inline-block stems from the differing behavior of inline and block elements. Inline elements, such as inline, only respect horizontal margins because they are laid out horizontally one after the other. Inline-block elements, on the other hand, are effectively treated as blocks, exhibiting the familiar behavior of block-level elements, including the ability to respect vertical margins like margin-top.

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