align-items Property in CSS Grid Layouts

align-items specify the default align-self value for all the grid items.

The align-items property accepts the following values:

• stretch
• start
• center
• end

Let's discuss the four values.

What Is align-items: stretch in CSS Grid?

stretch is align-items default value. It stretches the grid container's items to fill their individual cells' column (block) axis.

align-items' stretch value stretches grid items to fill their individual cells' column axis

Here's an example:

CSS

section {
  display: grid;
  align-items: stretch;
  grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;
  background-color: orange;
  margin: 10px;
  height: 400px;
}

div {
  border: 1px solid black;
  background-color: purple;
  color: white;
  padding: 10px;
  border-radius: 5px;
}

HTML

<section>
  <div>1</div>
  <div>2</div>
  <div>3</div>
  <div>4</div>
</section>

Try it on StackBlitz

The snippet above used the stretch value to stretch the grid items to fill their individual cells' column axis.

What Is align-items: start in CSS Grid?

start aligns a grid container's items with the column-start edge of their individual cells' column axis.

align-items' start value aligns grid items to their individual cells' column-start edge

Here's an example:

CSS

section {
  display: grid;
  align-items: start;
  grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;
  background-color: orange;
  margin: 10px;
  height: 400px;
}

div {
  border: 1px solid black;
  background-color: purple;
  color: white;
  padding: 10px;
  border-radius: 5px;
}

HTML

<section>
  <div>1</div>
  <div>2</div>
  <div>3</div>
  <div>4</div>
</section>

Try it on StackBlitz

The snippet above used the start value to align the grid items to their individual cells' column-start edge.

What Is align-items: center in CSS Grid?

center aligns a grid container's items to the center of their individual cells' column axis.

align-items' center value aligns grid items to their individual cells' center

Here's an example:

CSS

section {
  display: grid;
  align-items: center;
  grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;
  background-color: orange;
  margin: 10px;
  height: 400px;
}

div {
  border: 1px solid black;
  background-color: purple;
  color: white;
  padding: 10px;
  border-radius: 5px;
}

HTML

<section>
  <div>1</div>
  <div>2</div>
  <div>3</div>
  <div>4</div>
</section>

Try it on StackBlitz

The snippet above used the center value to align the grid items to the center of their individual cells' column axis.

What Is align-items: end in CSS Grid?

end aligns a grid container's items with the column-end edge of their individual cells' column axis.

align-items' end value aligns grid items to their individual cells' column-end edge

Here's an example:

CSS

section {
  display: grid;
  align-items: end;
  grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;
  background-color: orange;
  margin: 10px;
  height: 400px;
}

div {
  border: 1px solid black;
  background-color: purple;
  color: white;
  padding: 10px;
  border-radius: 5px;
}

HTML

<section>
  <div>1</div>
  <div>2</div>
  <div>3</div>
  <div>4</div>
</section>

Try it on StackBlitz

The snippet above used the end value to align the grid items to their individual cells' column-end edge.

Overview

This article discussed what a CSS align-items property is. We also discussed its values.

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