masonry-auto-flow

Experimental: This is an experimental technology
Check the Browser compatibility table carefully before using this in production.

The masonry-auto-flow CSS property modifies how items are placed when using masonry in CSS Grid Layout.

Syntax

css

/* Keyword values */
masonry-auto-flow: pack;
masonry-auto-flow: next;
masonry-auto-flow: ordered;
masonry-auto-flow: definite-first;
masonry-auto-flow: next ordered;

/* Global values */
masonry-auto-flow: inherit;
masonry-auto-flow: initial;
masonry-auto-flow: revert;
masonry-auto-flow: revert-layer;
masonry-auto-flow: unset;

This property may take one of two forms:

  • A single keyword: one of pack, next, definite-first, or ordered
  • Two keywords, for example next ordered.

Values

pack

As per the default masonry algorithm, items will be placed into the track with the most room.

next

Items will be placed one after the other in the grid axis.

definite-first

Display as in the default masonry algorithm, placing items with a definite place first before placing other masonry items.

ordered

Ignore any items with a definite placement, and place everything according to order-modified document order.

Formal definition

Initial valuepack
Applies toGrid containers with masonry layout
Inheritedno
Computed valueas specified
Animation typediscrete

Formal syntax

masonry-auto-flow = 
  [ pack | next ]               ||
  [ definite-first | ordered ]

Examples

Using the next keyword

HTML

html

<div id="grid">
  <div id="item1"></div>
  <div id="item2"></div>
  <div id="item3"></div>
  <div id="item4"></div>
  <div id="item5"></div>
</div>
<select id="flow">
  <option value="pack">pack</option>
  <option value="next">next</option>
</select>

CSS

css

#grid {
  height: 200px;
  width: 200px;
  display: grid;
  gap: 10px;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
  grid-template-rows: masonry;
  masonry-auto-flow: pack;
}

#item1 {
  background-color: lime;
  height: 2em;
}

#item2 {
  background-color: yellow;
}

#item3 {
  background-color: blue;
  height: 3em;
}

#item4 {
  background-color: red;
  height: 2.5em;
}

#item5 {
  background-color: aqua;
  height: 4em;
}

js

const selectElem = document.querySelector("select");

function changeMasonryFlow() {
  const grid = document.getElementById("grid");
  const direction = document.getElementById("flow");
  const masonryAutoFlow = direction.value === "pack" ? "pack" : "next";

  grid.style.masonryAutoFlow = masonryAutoFlow;
}

selectElem.addEventListener("change", changeMasonryFlow);

Result

Specifications

Specification
CSS Grid Layout Module Level 3
# masonry-auto-flow

Browser compatibility

BCD tables only load in the browser

See also