CSS Grid Layout: how to make background colour span multiple cells?

22,945

Solution 1

  1. To fix the borders and background of nested-3, you could set the background and borders using:

    background: #888;
    grid-gap: 1px;
    

    and for all the children of nested-3 you could set background:

    .nested-3 > div {
      background: #ddd;
    }
    
  2. Instead of padding on .operations you could add this to nested-3 > div:

    .nested-3 > div {/* ADDED */
      background: #ddd;
      display: flex;
      justify-content: center;
      align-items: center;
      padding: 1.3rem;
    }
    

    and you might have to remove justify-items: center and padding: 1rem from the nested-3 div.

I tried out the design too - rearranged the markup like so:

<div class="nested-3 keys">
    <!-- MODIFIED HERE -->
    <div class="operations bg-grey">C</div>
    <div class="operations bg-grey">+/-</div>
    <div class="operations bg-grey">%</div>
    <div>7</div>
    <div>8</div>
    <div>9</div>
    <div>4</div>
    <div>5</div>
    <div>6</div>
    <div>1</div>
    <div>2</div>
    <div>3</div>
    <div class="zero">0</div>
    <div>.</div>
    <div class="operations bg-grey op-right">/</div>
    <div class="op-right">x</div>
    <div class="op-right">-</div>
    <div class="op-right">+</div>
    <div class="op-right">=</div>
</div>

and added these styles:

.nested-3>.op-right {
  grid-column-start: 4;
  grid-row-start: 1;
  background: #fd8a0d;
}

.nested-3>.op-right+.op-right {
  grid-row-start: 2;
}

.nested-3>.op-right+.op-right+.op-right {
  grid-row-start: 3;
}

.nested-3>.op-right+.op-right+.op-right+.op-right {
  grid-row-start: 4;
}

.nested-3>.op-right+.op-right+.op-right+.op-right+.op-right {
  grid-row-start: 5;
}

.zero {
  grid-column: span 2;
}

See the snippet below:

html {
  font-size: 20px;
}

.wrapper {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: 1.2fr 1fr 1.2fr;
  grid-auto-rows: minmax(700px, auto);
}

.wrapper>div {
  padding: 0;
}

.nested-1 {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
  justify-items: center;
}

.nested-1>div {
  font-family: "Roboto", sans-serif;
  font-size: 0.6rem;
  color: white;
}

.top-bar {
  padding-top: 0.3rem;
}

.flight-modus {
  justify-self: start;
  padding-left: 0.3rem;
}

.charge-status {
  justify-self: end;
  padding-right: 0.3rem;
}

.nested-2 {
  display: grid;
  grid-auto-rows: minmax(200px, auto);
  justify-items: end;
}

.nested-2>div {
  font-family: "Roboto", sans-serif;
  font-size: 5rem;
  font-weight: lighter;
  color: white;
  padding-left: 0.2rem;
  padding-right: 0.2rem;
  align-self: end;
}

.nested-3 {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(4, 1fr);
  grid-template-rows: repeat(5, 1fr);
  /*justify-items: center;*/
  font-size: 2.2rem;
  color: black;
  background: #888;/* CHANGED */
  grid-gap: 1px;/* ADDED */
  font-family: "Roboto", sans-serif;
  font-weight: lighter;
  /*padding: 1rem;*/
}

.nested-3>div { /* ADDED */
  background: #ddd;
  display: flex;
  justify-content: center;
  align-items: center;
  padding: 1.3rem;
}

.operations {
  font-size: 1.5rem;
  /*padding: 1.3rem;*/
}

.bg-grey {
  background: #ccc;
}

.left-cell {
  background: black;
}

.right-cell {
  background: black;
}

.calculator {
  background: #333333;
}

/* ADDED THESE BELOW */

.nested-3>.op-right {
  grid-column-start: 4;
  grid-row-start: 1;
  background: #fd8a0d;
}

.nested-3>.op-right+.op-right {
  grid-row-start: 2;
}

.nested-3>.op-right+.op-right+.op-right {
  grid-row-start: 3;
}

.nested-3>.op-right+.op-right+.op-right+.op-right {
  grid-row-start: 4;
}

.nested-3>.op-right+.op-right+.op-right+.op-right+.op-right {
  grid-row-start: 5;
}

.zero {
  grid-column: span 2;
}
<body class="">
  <div class="wrapper">
    <div class="left-cell">
    </div>

    <div class="calculator">
      <div class="nested-1 top-bar">
        <div class="flight-modus"><img src="http://i63.tinypic.com/sebv9j.png" alt="flight mode"> &nbsp;
          <img src="http://i67.tinypic.com/5zqf4k.png" alt="wifi signal at full strength"></div>
        <div>10:10 am</div>
        <div class="charge-status">96% <img src="http://i67.tinypic.com/30ldxtx.png" alt="battery at near full charge"></div>
      </div>

      <div class="nested-2 result">
        <div>3,658.8</div>
      </div>

      <div class="nested-3 keys">
        <!-- MODIFIED HERE -->
        <div class="operations bg-grey">C</div>
        <div class="operations bg-grey">+/-</div>
        <div class="operations bg-grey">%</div>
        <div>7</div>
        <div>8</div>
        <div>9</div>
        <div>4</div>
        <div>5</div>
        <div>6</div>
        <div>1</div>
        <div>2</div>
        <div>3</div>
        <div class="zero">0</div>
        <div>.</div>
        <div class="operations bg-grey op-right">/</div>
        <div class="op-right">x</div>
        <div class="op-right">-</div>
        <div class="op-right">+</div>
        <div class="op-right">=</div>
      </div>

    </div>
    <div class="right-cell">
    </div>
  </div>

Solution 2

It's very good that you try to use grid but just do it carefully (https://rachelandrew.co.uk/archives/2016/03/30/should-i-use-grid-or-flexbox/). For your issue I would use the grid only for the 3 cells (left, center and right). But I have used Flexbox for your "nested-3"-box here with intent so you can try it out and play with it a bit.

html{
	font-size: 20px;
}

.wrapper{
	display:grid;
	grid-template-columns: 1.2fr 1fr 1.2fr;
	grid-auto-rows: minmax(700px, auto);
}

.wrapper > div{
	padding: 0;
}

.nested-1{
	display:grid;
	grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
	justify-items: center;
}
.nested-1 > div{
	font-family: "Roboto", sans-serif;
	font-size: 0.6rem;
	color: white;
}

	.top-bar{
	padding-top: 0.3rem;
	}

	.flight-modus{
		justify-self:start;
		padding-left: 0.3rem;
	}

	.charge-status{
		justify-self:end;
		padding-right: 0.3rem;
	}

.nested-2{
	display: grid;
	grid-auto-rows: minmax(200px, auto);
	justify-items: end;
}
	.nested-2 > div{
		font-family: "Roboto", sans-serif;
		font-size: 5rem;
		font-weight: lighter;
		color: white;
		padding-left: 0.2rem;
		padding-right: 0.2rem;
		align-self: end;
	}

.nested-3{
	display: flex;
	font-size: 2.2rem;
	color: black;
	background: #ddd;
	font-family: "Roboto", sans-serif;
	font-weight: lighter;
}
  .keys {
    display: flex;
  }
  
  .wrapper1 {
    flex: 1 0 75%;
    display: flex;
    flex-wrap: wrap;
  }
  
  .wrapper1 > div {
    flex: 1 0 25%;
    height: 94px;
    border: 1px solid #777;
    display: flex;
    justify-content: center;
    align-items: center;
  }
  
  .wrapper1 > div.null {
    flex-basis:58%;
  }
  .wrapper2 {
    flex: 1 0 25%;
    display: flex;
    flex-wrap: wrap;
    align-items: center;
    justify-content: center;
    background-color: orange;
    color: #fff;
  }
  
  .wrapper2 > div {
    height: 94px;
    border: 1px solid #777;
    flex: 1 0 100%;
    display: flex;
    justify-content: center;
    align-items: center;
  }
.bg-grey{
	background: #ccc;
}

.left-cell{
	background: black;
}
.right-cell{
	background: black;
}

.calculator{
	background: #333333;
}
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
	<!-- EDIT HEAD INFO INSIDE CODEPEN PREFS -->
	<head>
		<meta charset="UTF-8">
		<meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge">
		<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">

		<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Roboto:100,300" rel="stylesheet">
		<link rel="stylesheet" href="styles.css">
	</head>
	<body class="">
	<div class="wrapper">
		<div class="left-cell">
		</div>

		<div class="calculator">
			<div class="nested-1 top-bar">
				<div class="flight-modus"><img src="http://i63.tinypic.com/sebv9j.png" alt="flight mode">
					&nbsp;
					<img src="http://i67.tinypic.com/5zqf4k.png" alt="wifi signal at full strength"></div>
				<div>10:10 am</div>
				<div class="charge-status">96% <img src="http://i67.tinypic.com/30ldxtx.png" alt="battery at near full charge"></div>
			</div>

			<div class="nested-2 result">
			<div>3,658.8</div>
			</div>

			<div class="nested-3 keys">
				<div class="wrapper1">
        <div>C</div>
        <div>+/-</div>
        <div>%</div>
        <div>7</div>
        <div>8</div>
        <div>9</div>
        <div>4</div>
        <div>5</div>
        <div>6</div>
        <div>3</div>
        <div>2</div>
        <div>1</div>
        <div class="null">0</div>
        <div>.</div>
      </div>
      <div class="wrapper2">
        <div>/</div>
        <div>X</div>
        <div>-</div>
        <div>+</div>
        <div>=</div>
      </div>
			</div>

		</div>
		<div class="right-cell">
		</div>
	</div>
</body>
</html>

Hope this will help! But as I said, try to think about if it does make sense to use grid or flex for small things. Have a look at the performance, too.

Solution 3

Tile Borders

A simple way to make the black borders would be to give the container a black background color.

.nested-3 {
  background: black;
}

Then apply your foreground color to each key.

.nested-3 > div {
  background: #ddd;
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
}

(Use flexbox to center the content.)

Then use the grid-gap property to create small gutters, which will simulate borders.

.nested-3 {
  grid-gap: 1px;
}

jsFiddle demo

html {
  font-size: 20px;
}

.wrapper {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: 1.2fr 1fr 1.2fr;
  grid-auto-rows: minmax(700px, auto);
}

.wrapper>div {
  padding: 0;
}

.nested-1 {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
  justify-items: center;
}

.nested-1>div {
  font-family: "Roboto", sans-serif;
  font-size: 0.6rem;
  color: white;
}

.top-bar {
  padding-top: 0.3rem;
}

.flight-modus {
  justify-self: start;
  padding-left: 0.3rem;
}

.charge-status {
  justify-self: end;
  padding-right: 0.3rem;
}

.nested-2 {
  display: grid;
  grid-auto-rows: minmax(200px, auto);
  justify-items: end;
}

.nested-2>div {
  font-family: "Roboto", sans-serif;
  font-size: 5rem;
  font-weight: lighter;
  color: white;
  padding-left: 0.2rem;
  padding-right: 0.2rem;
  align-self: end;
}

.nested-3 {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(4, 1fr);
  grid-template-rows: repeat(5, 1fr);
  /* justify-items: center; */
  text-align: center;
  font-size: 2.2rem;
  color: black;
  background: black;
  font-family: "Roboto", sans-serif;
  font-weight: lighter;
  padding: 1rem;
  grid-gap: 1px;
}

.nested-3>* {
  background: #ddd;
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
}

.operations {
  font-size: 1.5rem;
  padding: 1.3rem;
}

.left-cell {
  background: black;
}

.right-cell {
  background: black;
}

.calculator {
  background: #333333;
}
<div class="wrapper">
  <div class="left-cell">
  </div>

  <div class="calculator">
    <div class="nested-1 top-bar">
      <div class="flight-modus"><img src="http://i63.tinypic.com/sebv9j.png" alt="flight mode"> &nbsp;
        <img src="http://i67.tinypic.com/5zqf4k.png" alt="wifi signal at full strength"></div>
      <div>10:10 am</div>
      <div class="charge-status">96% <img src="http://i67.tinypic.com/30ldxtx.png" alt="battery at near full charge"></div>
    </div>

    <div class="nested-2 result">
      <div>3,658.8</div>
    </div>

    <div class="nested-3 keys">
      <div class="operations">C</div>
      <div class="operations">+/-</div>
      <div class="operations">%</div>
      <div class="operations">/</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
    </div>

  </div>
  <div class="right-cell">
  </div>
</div>

Row / Column Background Color

Standard CSS selectors can handle the task of setting background colors on rows and columns.

Row

.operations {
  font-size: 1.5rem;
  padding: 1.3rem;
  background-color: orange;
}

jsFiddle demo

html {
  font-size: 20px;
}

.wrapper {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: 1.2fr 1fr 1.2fr;
  grid-auto-rows: minmax(700px, auto);
}

.wrapper>div {
  padding: 0;
}

.nested-1 {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
  justify-items: center;
}

.nested-1>div {
  font-family: "Roboto", sans-serif;
  font-size: 0.6rem;
  color: white;
}

.top-bar {
  padding-top: 0.3rem;
}

.flight-modus {
  justify-self: start;
  padding-left: 0.3rem;
}

.charge-status {
  justify-self: end;
  padding-right: 0.3rem;
}

.nested-2 {
  display: grid;
  grid-auto-rows: minmax(200px, auto);
  justify-items: end;
}

.nested-2>div {
  font-family: "Roboto", sans-serif;
  font-size: 5rem;
  font-weight: lighter;
  color: white;
  padding-left: 0.2rem;
  padding-right: 0.2rem;
  align-self: end;
}

.nested-3 {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(4, 1fr);
  grid-template-rows: repeat(5, 1fr);
  /* justify-items: center; */
  text-align: center;
  font-size: 2.2rem;
  color: black;
  background: black;
  font-family: "Roboto", sans-serif;
  font-weight: lighter;
  padding: 1rem;
  grid-gap: 1px;
}

.nested-3>* {
  background: #ddd;
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
}

.operations {
  font-size: 1.5rem;
  padding: 1.3rem;
  background-color: orange;
}

.left-cell {
  background: black;
}

.right-cell {
  background: black;
}

.calculator {
  background: #333333;
}
<div class="wrapper">
  <div class="left-cell">
  </div>

  <div class="calculator">
    <div class="nested-1 top-bar">
      <div class="flight-modus"><img src="http://i63.tinypic.com/sebv9j.png" alt="flight mode"> &nbsp;
        <img src="http://i67.tinypic.com/5zqf4k.png" alt="wifi signal at full strength"></div>
      <div>10:10 am</div>
      <div class="charge-status">96% <img src="http://i67.tinypic.com/30ldxtx.png" alt="battery at near full charge"></div>
    </div>

    <div class="nested-2 result">
      <div>3,658.8</div>
    </div>

    <div class="nested-3 keys">
      <div class="operations">C</div>
      <div class="operations">+/-</div>
      <div class="operations">%</div>
      <div class="operations">/</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
    </div>

  </div>
  <div class="right-cell">
  </div>
</div>

Column

.nested-3 > div:nth-child(4n) {
  background-color: orange;
}

.nested-3 > div:not(:nth-child(3)):nth-child(4n + 3) {
  background-color: red;
}

jsFiddle demo

html {
  font-size: 20px;
}

.wrapper {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: 1.2fr 1fr 1.2fr;
  grid-auto-rows: minmax(700px, auto);
}

.wrapper>div {
  padding: 0;
}

.nested-1 {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
  justify-items: center;
}

.nested-1>div {
  font-family: "Roboto", sans-serif;
  font-size: 0.6rem;
  color: white;
}

.top-bar {
  padding-top: 0.3rem;
}

.flight-modus {
  justify-self: start;
  padding-left: 0.3rem;
}

.charge-status {
  justify-self: end;
  padding-right: 0.3rem;
}

.nested-2 {
  display: grid;
  grid-auto-rows: minmax(200px, auto);
  justify-items: end;
}

.nested-2>div {
  font-family: "Roboto", sans-serif;
  font-size: 5rem;
  font-weight: lighter;
  color: white;
  padding-left: 0.2rem;
  padding-right: 0.2rem;
  align-self: end;
}

.nested-3 {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(4, 1fr);
  grid-template-rows: repeat(5, 1fr);
  /* justify-items: center; */
  text-align: center;
  font-size: 2.2rem;
  color: black;
  background: black;
  font-family: "Roboto", sans-serif;
  font-weight: lighter;
  padding: 1rem;
  grid-gap: 1px;
}

.nested-3>* {
  background: #ddd;
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
}

.operations {
  font-size: 1.5rem;
  padding: 1.3rem;
}

.nested-3>div:nth-child(4n) {
  background-color: orange;
}

.nested-3>div:not(:nth-child(3)):nth-child(4n + 3) {
  background-color: red;
}

.left-cell {
  background: black;
}

.right-cell {
  background: black;
}

.calculator {
  background: #333333;
}
<div class="wrapper">
  <div class="left-cell">
  </div>

  <div class="calculator">
    <div class="nested-1 top-bar">
      <div class="flight-modus"><img src="http://i63.tinypic.com/sebv9j.png" alt="flight mode"> &nbsp;
        <img src="http://i67.tinypic.com/5zqf4k.png" alt="wifi signal at full strength"></div>
      <div>10:10 am</div>
      <div class="charge-status">96% <img src="http://i67.tinypic.com/30ldxtx.png" alt="battery at near full charge"></div>
    </div>

    <div class="nested-2 result">
      <div>3,658.8</div>
    </div>

    <div class="nested-3 keys">
      <div class="operations">C</div>
      <div class="operations">+/-</div>
      <div class="operations">%</div>
      <div class="operations">/</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
      <div>5</div>
    </div>

  </div>
  <div class="right-cell">
  </div>
</div>
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22,945
Juchtmans Chris
Author by

Juchtmans Chris

I am a Personal trainer, company owner, linguist, non-practicing lawyer and re-orienting into the world of code. Having started with front end web development, javascript is the first language I am thoroughly learning. Next, I want to do back end development, using JS and other languages for server-side applications. A huge fan of the mountains, high-quality work, a clean environment, and with family living in the country, my ultimate work destination would have to be CH!

Updated on July 09, 2022

Comments

  • Juchtmans Chris
    Juchtmans Chris almost 2 years

    For a FreeCodeCamp assignment I am making an iOS Calculator clone in CSS Grid Layout. The JavaScript to run it is work for later; I'm now focusing on a the design.

    The final result should look something like this:

    enter image description here

    html {
      font-size: 20px;
    }
    
    .wrapper {
      display: grid;
      grid-template-columns: 1.2fr 1fr 1.2fr;
      grid-auto-rows: minmax(700px, auto);
    }
    
    .wrapper>div {
      padding: 0;
    }
    
    .nested-1 {
      display: grid;
      grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
      justify-items: center;
    }
    
    .nested-1>div {
      font-family: "Roboto", sans-serif;
      font-size: 0.6rem;
      color: white;
    }
    
    .top-bar {
      padding-top: 0.3rem;
    }
    
    .flight-modus {
      justify-self: start;
      padding-left: 0.3rem;
    }
    
    .charge-status {
      justify-self: end;
      padding-right: 0.3rem;
    }
    
    .nested-2 {
      display: grid;
      grid-auto-rows: minmax(200px, auto);
      justify-items: end;
    }
    
    .nested-2>div {
      font-family: "Roboto", sans-serif;
      font-size: 5rem;
      font-weight: lighter;
      color: white;
      padding-left: 0.2rem;
      padding-right: 0.2rem;
      align-self: end;
    }
    
    .nested-3 {
      display: grid;
      grid-template-columns: repeat(4, 1fr);
      grid-template-rows: repeat(5, 1fr);
      justify-items: center;
      font-size: 2.2rem;
      color: black;
      background: #ddd;
      font-family: "Roboto", sans-serif;
      font-weight: lighter;
      padding: 1rem;
    }
    
    .operations {
      font-size: 1.5rem;
      padding: 1.3rem;
    }
    
    .bg-grey {
      background: #ccc;
    }
    
    .left-cell {
      background: black;
    }
    
    .right-cell {
      background: black;
    }
    
    .calculator {
      background: #333333;
    }
    <body class="">
      <div class="wrapper">
        <div class="left-cell">
        </div>
    
        <div class="calculator">
          <div class="nested-1 top-bar">
            <div class="flight-modus"><img src="http://i63.tinypic.com/sebv9j.png" alt="flight mode"> &nbsp;
              <img src="http://i67.tinypic.com/5zqf4k.png" alt="wifi signal at full strength"></div>
            <div>10:10 am</div>
            <div class="charge-status">96% <img src="http://i67.tinypic.com/30ldxtx.png" alt="battery at near full charge"></div>
          </div>
    
          <div class="nested-2 result">
            <div>3,658.8</div>
          </div>
    
          <div class="nested-3 keys">
            <div class="operations bg-grey">C</div>
            <div class="operations bg-grey">+/-</div>
            <div class="operations bg-grey">%</div>
            <div class="operations bg-grey">/</div>
            <div>5</div>
            <div>5</div>
            <div>5</div>
            <div>5</div>
            <div>5</div>
            <div>5</div>
            <div>5</div>
            <div>5</div>
            <div>5</div>
            <div>5</div>
            <div>5</div>
            <div>5</div>
            <div>5</div>
            <div>5</div>
            <div>5</div>
            <div>5</div>
          </div>
    
        </div>
        <div class="right-cell">
        </div>
      </div>

    What I did:

    I have made a general grid with several nested grids. No.3 of these nested grids has to hold the calculator keys (digits 0-9, basic math operations, result, clear).

    How do I set a continuous background-color across a certain number of cells e.g. darker grey, orange etc.? Now, setting the bg on my individual divs is leaving gaps. Next, the cell-borders should also get a 1px solid color, as per the example.

    Having searched around on SO and in CSS Grid layout / CSS Flexbox tutorials, I could not find a simple solution to this obviously simple task. Should I bring Flexbox into my Grid here?

    As much as I appreciate the wonderful new dynamics Grid brings, and its compatibility with Flexbox, I am still very much new to both.

    Any tips and remarks on my code structure are welcome! Thanks, Chris