7 replies to this topic

[Bouzy210]

This is a question that i am sure some of you can answer quickly, but anway. I have been learning how to code useing Xhtml and CSS. I am confused about some CSS properties.

I know classes and ids are for styling certain elements like <p> and such, but what is the difference between that and <div> and <span> both allow you to name sections of your code, and for both you can set style like background image, text color and stuff like that.

Bassically what I am trying to do hear is code a layout. It's supposed to be a simple 2 collum one. So say I have an image of what I want to be the content backround. Do I use classes, ids, divs, or spans? What about the navigation sidebar thing? Spans Divs ahhhh its so confusing :bashhead:

Edited by Bouzy210, 01 July 2007 - 09:14 PM.

[Archangel]

The difference between Classes and IDs is that classes can be used multiple times on a page whereas an ID should only be used once.

Some Reading Material

[Bouzy210]

Right i know that, but when can you tell whether to use classes and ids verses divs and spans. Don't they bassically do the same thing? What about like above like I said for a 2 collum layout, but mainly...

when can you tell whether to use classes and ids verses divs and spans. Don't they bassically do the same thing?

[Bouzy210]

ok thanks I think I get it.

[rc69]

A div takes up the full width of it's parent element thus causing anything added after it (and outside of it) to automatically break to a new line. They are ment to hold basically anything.

Spans are just spans. Usually the are used to change something across a "span" of words. But i'm sure people have come up with other uses for them.

[Archangel]

Classes and IDs are used inside divs, paragraphs, spans, etc. so you just need to determine when to use them based off of what rc69 said.

When it comes down to using a div vs. paragraph for formatting if you have a class or id linked with that div or paragraph it doesn't really matter which...more just personal preference I think.

I know that when I'm doing coding I'll generally use divs over paragraphs and then if I want to add some quick space around a section w/o giving it a class or id that's when I'll bust out a paragraph. If I'm working on layout and not content I will always use divs...I never use paragraphs to help form the layout of the webpage.

We help you understand anymore at all?

[Bouzy210]

Your last post explained it perfectly thanks. everyone.

One more question and I promise I will be done for a week at least (I didn't want to start a new thread)

anyway...


I am making a layout and the content box is acting weird. The text is going outside the box even though I have the padding set. The margin is zero. Hear is what it looks like... http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l7...Bouzy/ggmf.jpg

Hear is some of my code.


#content {

height: 518px;
width: 505px;
background-image: url(images/content.jpg);
background-repeat: no-repeat;
line height: .8em;
padding-left: 38px;
padding-right: 38px;
padding-top: 46px;
padding-bottom: 46px;
margin-top: 20px;
margin-bottom: 20px;


}


<div id="content">
<h2>Home</h2>
<p id="home">
Blallasd;ldsjf;lasjdf;laskjdf;lasjkdfla;jksdf;lask jdf;lajsdl;fjasdlfjkasdl;kfjas;ldjfk;lsadjflasdjfa
asdlkjfa;lsdkjf;laksdjf;lajsdlkfjafds

</p>

</div>

Edited by Bouzy210, 02 July 2007 - 04:11 PM.