Difference Between none, block, and inline Display in CSS

The CSS display property is one of the most fundamental CSS properties, used to control how HTML elements are displayed on a web page. This article will explain the differences between display: none, display: block, and display: inline, with examples and use cases to help you understand when to use each value effectively.

What is the display Property?

The display property determines how an element is visually presented on a web page. It affects an element’s layout, its box model properties (like margin and padding), and its behavior in relation to other elements. Common values for the display property include:

• none
• block
• inline
• inline-block
• flex
• grid

For this article, we’ll focus on none, block, and inline.

1. display: none

The display: none value completely hides an element from the page. Unlike visibility: hidden, which only makes an element invisible, display: none removes the element from the document flow entirely, meaning it won’t take up any space.

Example:

<p>This paragraph will be visible.</p>
<p style="display: none;">This paragraph will not be visible.</p>

Key Characteristics:

• Does not occupy space: The element is removed from the document flow, so other elements behave as if it doesn’t exist.
• No interaction: Users can’t interact with elements set to display: none (e.g., clicking or tabbing through it).
• Common Use Cases: Useful for hiding elements conditionally using JavaScript or CSS (like dropdown menus, modals, or tabs).

Example Use Case in JavaScript:

document.getElementById('myElement').style.display = 'none';

2. display: block

An element with display: block starts on a new line, and it occupies the full width available. Block-level elements include <div>, <p>, <h1> to <h6>, and <section>. They can have width, height, margins, and padding.

Example:

<div style="background-color: lightblue;">I am a block-level element</div>
<div style="background-color: lightgreen;">I start on a new line</div>

Key Characteristics:

• Takes up full width: A block element expands to fill the container’s width by default.
• Forces a line break: Block elements always start on a new line.
• Supports all box model properties: You can set width, height, margin, and padding on block elements.
• Common Use Cases: Used for layout containers, sections, and other structural elements.

Example Use Case:

.container {
  display: block;
  margin: 20px;
  padding: 10px;
}

Related Article:

For a deeper understanding of the box model and how block elements work, check out our detailed guide on CSS Box Model.

3. display: inline

Elements with display: inline do not start on a new line and only take up as much width as needed. Inline elements include <span>, <a>, <strong>, and <em>.

Example:

<span style="background-color: yellow;">I am an inline element</span>
<span style="background-color: orange;">I am next to the previous span</span>

Key Characteristics:

• Shares the same line: Inline elements are placed within the same line, one after another.
• No width/height: You cannot set width or height on inline elements; only horizontal padding and margin are effective.
• Common Use Cases: Best for styling text, links, or small portions of content within a block element.

Example Use Case:

a {
  display: inline;
  text-decoration: none;
  color: blue;
}

Comparison Table: none vs block vs inline

Property	none	block	inline
Visibility	Hidden (not rendered)	Visible	Visible
Line Break	N/A	Starts on a new line	Does not start a new line
Width/Height	N/A	Can be defined	Cannot be defined
Margin/Padding	N/A	Both work	Only horizontal margin
Interaction	Not interactable	Fully interactable	Fully interactable
Use Cases	Hiding elements	Containers, sections	Text styling, links

Practical Examples

Example 1: Using display: none for Responsive Design

@media (max-width: 768px) {
  .sidebar {
    display: none;
  }
}

In this example, the .sidebar element is hidden on devices with a width of 768px or less.

Example 2: Using display: block for Layout

header {
  display: block;
  background-color: #f4f4f4;
  padding: 20px;
}

This makes the <header> take up the full width, making it ideal for page headings.

Example 3: Styling Text with display: inline

span.highlight {
  display: inline;
  background-color: yellow;
}

Use inline for highlighting specific words within a paragraph without disrupting the text flow.

SEO Best Practices

Using the correct display value can indirectly affect your SEO performance. Proper structuring of elements (block for sections, inline for links and text) improves the readability and accessibility of your website, which can enhance your SEO rankings. Google prioritizes content that’s well-structured and easy to navigate.

Related Articles:

• CSS Display & Visibility
• CSS flexbox, Grid layout 

Conclusion

Understanding the differences between display: none, display: block, and display: inline is crucial for creating effective layouts and improving user experience. Whether you are hiding elements dynamically, structuring content, or styling text, choosing the right display property ensures optimal performance and design.

By mastering these fundamental properties, you’ll be better equipped to build responsive and accessible web pages.

Further Reading

To explore more CSS concepts, check out our other articles on AJ Tech Blog. Dive deeper into topics like CSS Box Model and Typography for a comprehensive understanding.