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CSS Responsive Layouts Responsive Patterns Flexbox

Aron Macarow
Aron Macarow
2,615 Points
Posted by Aron Macarow
Aron Macarow
2,615 Points

What's the state of support for Flexbox in 2017?

So this video mentions that it was created in early 2015, when many browsers still did not support Flexbox. Obviously this has changed some nearly two years later. However, is Flexbox at a point yet where it can be used for layouts without including fall-backs for older browsers?

And if fall-backs are still needed, how do you go about incorporating those? Is there a good guide to this somewhere?

Also, why would you use a layout/positioning system if fall-backs are still needed? Isn't it extra work at that point?

Thanks for discussing with me. I appreciate it!

3 Answers

Jason Anders
MOD
Jason Anders
Treehouse Moderator 145,860 Points
Jason Anders
Jason Anders
Treehouse Moderator 145,860 Points

Hey Aron,

A great place to check things like this is caniuse. As you can see, Flexbox is pretty well supported.

:dizzy:

Aron Macarow
Aron Macarow
2,615 Points
Aron Macarow
Aron Macarow
2,615 Points

Thanks, Jason. I guess there's no one answer really then -- which makes sense -- but more of a "depends on your audience." It does look pretty well supported, but I do see in the U.S. that IE holds a sizable share and is only partially supported.

Assuming a client doesn't know what browsers their audience is likely using, how would a responsible developer help them make these decisions?

nfs
nfs
35,526 Points
nfs
nfs
35,526 Points

Well, within very few days, flexbox will become as widely used as display or floats. So no worries.

Happy coding

Christopher Debove
PLUS
Christopher Debove
Courses Plus Student 18,373 Points
Christopher Debove
Christopher Debove
Courses Plus Student 18,373 Points

Well only old browsers like IE10 and older do not support flex as it is now. Chrome, Safari, Firefox, IE11 and Edge support it.

Many company give up on maintaining compatibility with such old browsers. In my humble opinion, the flexbox layout is the future. Vertical positioning (center for example), reversing, index offset. All is so much easier and maintainable with flexboxes.