The calc() function is an inbuilt CSS function used to perform calculations to determine CSS property values dynamically. This function allows combining different units, such as percentages and pixels, using basic arithmetic operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. This article explores the syntax, usage, and benefits of the calc() function, demonstrating its practical applications through examples to help you enhance your web design flexibility and efficiency.
Syntax:
calc( Expression )
Parameters: This function accepts single parameter Expression which is mandatory. This parameter contains mathematical expressions which need to implement. The operators used by this parameters are: +, -, *, /
Example: The below program illustrates the calc() function in CSS:
html
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>calc function</title>
<style>
.geeks {
position: absolute;
left: 50px;
width: calc(100% - 20%);
height: calc(500px - 300px);
background-color: green;
padding-top: 30px;
text-align: center;
}
.gfg {
font-size: 40px;
font-weight: bold;
color: white
}
h1 {
color: white;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<div class="geeks">
<div class="gfg">GeeksforGeeks</div>
<h1>The calc() Function</h1>
</div>
</body>
</html>
Output:
Understanding the working of the calc() function in CSS:
- The calc() function in CSS does calculations based on the values of their parent element or the values provided by the user during the calculation.
Let's understand the work in more depth using some examples:
Example 1: This example shows the working of the calc() function in CSS.
HTML
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible"
content="IE=edge">
<meta name="viewport"
content="width=device-width, initial-scale=">
<title>Calc Function</title>
<style>
.parent{
background-color: skyblue;
}
.heading {
left: 30px;
width: calc(50% - 100px);
height: 100px;
background-color: #579dcf;
padding-top: 20px;
text-align: center;
}
h2 {
color: #e9e8e9;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<br>
<div class="parent">
<div class="heading">
<h2>
Welcome to GEEKSFORGEEKS.
</h2>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>
In the above code example, the calc() function is used to give the width value to the heading. Here , we have used the value of the parent which is set to 100% of the screen width by default. The calc(50% - 100px) means that the width of the heading will be equal to "50% of the width of the parent - 100 px". Thus , we here use the calc() function with both the value from parent and a constant value.
Here is the output of the code:
Example 2: This example shows the working of the calc() function in CSS.
HTML
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible"
content="IE=edge">
<meta name="viewport"
content="width=device-width, initial-scale=">
<title>Calc Function</title>
<style>
.parent{
background-color: skyblue;
width: calc(80% - 2em);
}
.heading {
left: 30px;
width: calc(50% - 100px);
height: 100px;
background-color: #579dcf;
padding-top: 20px;
text-align: center;
}
h2 {
color: #e9e8e9;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<br>
<div class="parent">
<div class="heading">
<h2>
Welcome to GEEKSFORGEEKS.
</h2>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>
In the above code example, we have used the calc() function twice. First, using the calc() function we have defined the value of the parent div. Then, using the value of the parent div element and using the calc() function, we define the value of the heading div element. Thus, it is clear that calc() function present in the parent element can access the value produced by the child calc() function.
Here is the output of the code:
The calc() function in CSS provides a flexible way to perform dynamic calculations directly within your stylesheets. By leveraging this function, developers can create more responsive and adaptive layouts, seamlessly combining different units and values. Understanding and utilizing the calc() function can significantly improve the efficiency and maintainability of your CSS, leading to more sophisticated and adaptable web designs.
Supported Browser:
- Google Chrome
- Edge
- Firefox
- Opera
- Safari
Similar Reads
CSS Tutorial CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheets. It is a stylesheet language used to style and enhance website presentation. CSS is one of the three main components of a webpage, along with HTML and JavaScript.HTML adds Structure to a web page.JavaScript adds logic to it and CSS makes it visually appealing or
7 min read
CSS Introduction CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is a language designed to simplify the process of making web pages presentable.It allows you to apply styles to HTML documents by prescribing colors, fonts, spacing, and positioning.The main advantages are the separation of content (in HTML) and styling (in CSS) and the
4 min read
CSS Syntax CSS is written as a rule set, which consists of a selector and a declaration block. The basic syntax of CSS is as follows:The selector is a targeted HTML element or elements to which we have to apply styling.The Declaration Block or " { } " is a block in which we write our CSS.HTML<html> <h
2 min read
CSS Selectors CSS Selectors are used to target HTML elements on your pages, allowing you to apply styles based on their ID, class, type attributes, and more. There are mainly 5 types of selectors.Basic CSS Selectors: These are used to target elements by tag, .class, or # ID for fundamental styling needs.Combinato
7 min read
CSS Comments CSS comments are used to add notes or explanations to your code, helping you and others understand it better. They start with /* and end with */ and can be used for both single-line and multi-line comments. Note: Comments are ignored by browsers, so they won’t affect how your webpage looks or works.
2 min read
CSS Colors CSS colors are used to set the color of different parts of a webpage, like text, background, and borders. This helps make the page look more attractive and easier to read. You can define colors using names, hex codes, RGB values, and more.You can try different formats of colors here- #content-iframe
5 min read
CSS Borders Borders in CSS are used to create a visible outline around an element. They can be customized in terms ofWidth: The thickness of the border.Style: The appearance of the border (solid, dashed, dotted, etc.).Color: The color of the border.You can try different types of borders here- #custom-iframe{ he
5 min read
CSS Margins CSS margins are used to create space around an element, separating it from neighboring elements and the edges of the webpage. They control the layout by adjusting the distance between elements, providing better organization and readability.Syntax:body { margin: value;}HTML<html> <head>
4 min read
CSS Height and Width Height and Width in CSS are used to set the height and width of boxes. Their values can be set using length, percentage, or auto.Width and HeightThe width and height properties in CSS are used to define the dimensions of an element. The values can be set in various units, such as pixels (px), centim
4 min read
CSS Outline CSS outline is a property used to draw a line around an element's border. It does not affect the layout, unlike borders. It's often used to highlight elements, providing a visual emphasis without altering the dimensions of the element.Syntaxselector{ outline: outline-width outline-type outline-color
4 min read