Tailwind CSS and contents class for Flexbox Layouts

How to Use display: contents with Tailwind CSS to Apply Flexbox Styles to Wrapper Divs in a Navbar

When building a navbar, it's common to nest elements using wrapper divs to group items or apply specific styles. However, you might find that these wrapper divs interfere with the layout, especially when using flexbox. That's where display: contents comes in handy.

In this blog post, I’ll show you how to use Tailwind CSS and display: contents to apply flexbox styles cleanly, allowing your inner elements to inherit the parent’s layout while keeping the wrapper divs intact.

For a visual walkthrough, check out this YouTube video here.

What is display: contents?

The display: contents CSS property allows an element to disappear visually while retaining its children in the DOM. This means the child elements behave as though they are direct children of the parent element. This is especially useful for keeping the structure of your HTML without introducing layout problems caused by extra wrapper divs.

Example Use Case: Creating a Responsive Navbar

Let’s start with a navbar that includes multiple nested divs, a common pattern:

export default function Navbar() {
  return (
    <nav className="w-full flex items-center p-4 bg-gray-800 gap-4">
      <div className="flex items-center">
        <svg
          className="h-8 w-8 fill-white mr-2"
          role="img"
          viewBox="0 0 24 24"
          xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
        >
          <title>React</title>
          <path d="M14.23 12.004a2.236 2.236 0 0 1-2.235 2.236 2.236 2.236 0 0 1-2.236-2.236 2.236 2.236 0 0 1 2.235-2.236 2.236 2.236 0 0 1 2.236 2.236zm2.648-10.69c-1.346 0-3.107.96-4.888 2.622-1.78-1.653-3.542-2.602-4.887-2.602-.41 0-.783.093-1.106.278-1.375.793-1.683 3.264-.973 6.365C1.98 8.917 0 10.42 0 12.004c0 1.59 1.99 3.097 5.043 4.03-.704 3.113-.39 5.588.988 6.38.32.187.69.275 1.102.275 1.345 0 3.107-.96 4.888-2.624 1.78 1.654 3.542 2.603 4.887 2.603.41 0 .783-.09 1.106-.275 1.374-.792 1.683-3.263.973-6.365C22.02 15.096 24 13.59 24 12.004c0-1.59-1.99-3.097-5.043-4.032.704-3.11.39-5.587-.988-6.38-.318-.184-.688-.277-1.092-.278zm-.005 1.09v.006c.225 0 .406.044.558.127.666.382.955 1.835.73 3.704-.054.46-.142.945-.25 1.44-.96-.236-2.006-.417-3.107-.534-.66-.905-1.345-1.727-2.035-2.447 1.592-1.48 3.087-2.292 4.105-2.295zm-9.77.02c1.012 0 2.514.808 4.11 2.28-.686.72-1.37 1.537-2.02 2.442-1.107.117-2.154.298-3.113.538-.112-.49-.195-.964-.254-1.42-.23-1.868.054-3.32.714-3.707.19-.09.4-.127.563-.132zm4.882 3.05c.455.468.91.992 1.36 1.564-.44-.02-.89-.034-1.345-.034-.46 0-.915.01-1.36.034.44-.572.895-1.096 1.345-1.565zM12 8.1c.74 0 1.477.034 2.202.093.406.582.802 1.203 1.183 1.86.372.64.71 1.29 1.018 1.946-.308.655-.646 1.31-1.013 1.95-.38.66-.773 1.288-1.18 1.87-.728.063-1.466.098-2.21.098-.74 0-1.477-.035-2.202-.093-.406-.582-.802-1.204-1.183-1.86-.372-.64-.71-1.29-1.018-1.946.303-.657.646-1.313 1.013-1.954.38-.66.773-1.286 1.18-1.868.728-.064 1.466-.098 2.21-.098zm-3.635.254c-.24.377-.48.763-.704 1.16-.225.39-.435.782-.635 1.174-.265-.656-.49-1.31-.676-1.947.64-.15 1.315-.283 2.015-.386zm7.26 0c.695.103 1.365.23 2.006.387-.18.632-.405 1.282-.66 1.933-.2-.39-.41-.783-.64-1.174-.225-.392-.465-.774-.705-1.146zm3.063.675c.484.15.944.317 1.375.498 1.732.74 2.852 1.708 2.852 2.476-.005.768-1.125 1.74-2.857 2.475-.42.18-.88.342-1.355.493-.28-.958-.646-1.956-1.1-2.98.45-1.017.81-2.01 1.085-2.964zm-13.395.004c.278.96.645 1.957 1.1 2.98-.45 1.017-.812 2.01-1.086 2.964-.484-.15-.944-.318-1.37-.5-1.732-.737-2.852-1.706-2.852-2.474 0-.768 1.12-1.742 2.852-2.476.42-.18.88-.342 1.356-.494zm11.678 4.28c.265.657.49 1.312.676 1.948-.64.157-1.316.29-2.016.39.24-.375.48-.762.705-1.158.225-.39.435-.788.636-1.18zm-9.945.02c.2.392.41.783.64 1.175.23.39.465.772.705 1.143-.695-.102-1.365-.23-2.006-.386.18-.63.406-1.282.66-1.933zM17.92 16.32c.112.493.2.968.254 1.423.23 1.868-.054 3.32-.714 3.708-.147.09-.338.128-.563.128-1.012 0-2.514-.807-4.11-2.28.686-.72 1.37-1.536 2.02-2.44 1.107-.118 2.154-.3 3.113-.54zm-11.83.01c.96.234 2.006.415 3.107.532.66.905 1.345 1.727 2.035 2.446-1.595 1.483-3.092 2.295-4.11 2.295-.22-.005-.406-.05-.553-.132-.666-.38-.955-1.834-.73-3.703.054-.46.142-.944.25-1.438zm4.56.64c.44.02.89.034 1.345.034.46 0 .915-.01 1.36-.034-.44.572-.895 1.095-1.345 1.565-.455-.47-.91-.993-1.36-1.565z" />
        </svg>
        <div className="flex items-center gap-4">
          <a href="#home" className="text-white hover:text-gray-400">Home</a>
          <a href="#about" className="text-white hover:text-gray-400">About</a>
          <a href="#services" className="text-white hover:text-gray-400">Services</a>
          <a href="#contact" className="text-white hover:text-gray-400">Contact</a>
        </div>
      </div>
      <div className="flex items-center ml-auto">
        <div className="cursor-pointer avatar flex items-center justify-center bg-blue-500 text-white w-10 h-10 rounded-full font-bold">DM</div>
        <a href="/" className="block bg-blue-500 text-white px-4 py-2 rounded hover:bg-blue-600">Get Started</a>
      </div>
    </nav>
  );
}

As you can see, multiple divs are nested inside the nav, each with its own flex alignment. However, the wrapper div for the links adds unnecessary complexity by breaking the flow of the flexbox layout.

Simplifying with display: contents

By applying the display: contents property using Tailwind's contents utility, we can remove the visual effect of the wrapper div while maintaining its structural role.

Here's how you can modify the code:

export default function Navbar() {
  return (
    <nav className="w-full flex items-center p-4 bg-gray-800 gap-4">
      <div className="contents">
        <svg
          className="h-8 w-8 fill-white mr-2"
          role="img"
          viewBox="0 0 24 24"
          xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
        >
          <title>React</title>
          <path d="M14.23 12.004a2.236 2.236 0 0 1-2.235 2.236 2.236 2.236 0 0 1-2.236-2.236 2.236 2.236 0 0 1 2.235-2.236 2.236 2.236 0 0 1 2.236 2.236zm2.648-10.69c-1.346 0-3.107.96-4.888 2.622-1.78-1.653-3.542-2.602-4.887-2.602-.41 0-.783.093-1.106.278-1.375.793-1.683 3.264-.973 6.365C1.98 8.917 0 10.42 0 12.004c0 1.59 1.99 3.097 5.043 4.03-.704 3.113-.39 5.588.988 6.38.32.187.69.275 1.102.275 1.345 0 3.107-.96 4.888-2.624 1.78 1.654 3.542 2.603 4.887 2.603.41 0 .783-.09 1.106-.275 1.374-.792 1.683-3.263.973-6.365C22.02 15.096 24 13.59 24 12.004c0-1.59-1.99-3.097-5.043-4.032.704-3.11.39-5.587-.988-6.38-.318-.184-.688-.277-1.092-.278zm-.005 1.09v.006c.225 0 .406.044.558.127.666.382.955 1.835.73 3.704-.054.46-.142.945-.25 1.44-.96-.236-2.006-.417-3.107-.534-.66-.905-1.345-1.727-2.035-2.447 1.592-1.48 3.087-2.292 4.105-2.295zm-9.77.02c1.012 0 2.514.808 4.11 2.28-.686.72-1.37 1.537-2.02 2.442-1.107.117-2.154.298-3.113.538-.112-.49-.195-.964-.254-1.42-.23-1.868.054-3.32.714-3.707.19-.09.4-.127.563-.132zm4.882 3.05c.455.468.91.992 1.36 1.564-.44-.02-.89-.034-1.345-.034-.46 0-.915.01-1.36.034.44-.572.895-1.096 1.345-1.565zM12 8.1c.74 0 1.477.034 2.202.093.406.582.802 1.203 1.183 1.86.372.64.71 1.29 1.018 1.946-.308.655-.646 1.31-1.013 1.95-.38.66-.773 1.288-1.18 1.87-.728.063-1.466.098-2.21.098-.74 0-1.477-.035-2.202-.093-.406-.582-.802-1.204-1.183-1.86-.372-.64-.71-1.29-1.018-1.946.303-.657.646-1.313 1.013-1.954.38-.66.773-1.286 1.18-1.868.728-.064 1.466-.098 2.21-.098zm-3.635.254c-.24.377-.48.763-.704 1.16-.225.39-.435.782-.635 1.174-.265-.656-.49-1.31-.676-1.947.64-.15 1.315-.283 2.015-.386zm7.26 0c.695.103 1.365.23 2.006.387-.18.632-.405 1.282-.66 1.933-.2-.39-.41-.783-.64-1.174-.225-.392-.465-.774-.705-1.146zm3.063.675c.484.15.944.317 1.375.498 1.732.74 2.852 1.708 2.852 2.476-.005.768-1.125 1.74-2.857 2.475-.42.18-.88.342-1.355.493-.28-.958-.646-1.956-1.1-2.98.45-1.017.81-2.01 1.085-2.964zm-13.395.004c.278.96.645 1.957 1.1 2.98-.45 1.017-.812 2.01-1.086 2.964-.484-.15-.944-.318-1.37-.5-1.732-.737-2.852-1.706-2.852-2.474 0-.768 1.12-1.742 2.852-2.476.42-.18.88-.342 1.356-.494zm11.678 4.28c.265.657.49 1.312.676 1.948-.64.157-1.316.29-2.016.39.24-.375.48-.762.705-1.158.225-.39.435-.788.636-1.18zm-9.945.02c.2.392.41.783.64 1.175.23.39.465.772.705 1.143-.695-.102-1.365-.23-2.006-.386.18-.63.406-1.282.66-1.933zM17.92 16.32c.112.493.2.968.254 1.423.23 1.868-.054 3.32-.714 3.708-.147.09-.338.128-.563.128-1.012 0-2.514-.807-4.11-2.28.686-.72 1.37-1.536 2.02-2.44 1.107-.118 2.154-.3 3.113-.54zm-11.83.01c.96.234 2.006.415 3.107.532.66.905 1.345 1.727 2.035 2.446-1.595 1.483-3.092 2.295-4.11 2.295-.22-.005-.406-.05-.553-.132-.666-.38-.955-1.834-.73-3.703.054-.46.142-.944.25-1.438zm4.56.64c.44.02.89.034 1.345.034.46 0 .915-.01 1.36-.034-.44.572-.895 1.095-1.345 1.565-.455-.47-.91-.993-1.36-1.565z" />
        </svg>
        <div className="contents">
          <a href="#home" className="text-white hover:text-gray-400">Home</a>
          <a href="#about" className="text-white hover:text-gray-400">About</a>
          <a href="#services" className="text-white hover:text-gray-400">Services</a>
          <a href="#contact" className="text-white hover:text-gray-400">Contact</a>
        </div>
      </div>
      <div className="contents">
        <div className="ml-auto cursor-pointer avatar flex items-center justify-center bg-blue-500 text-white w-10 h-10 rounded-full font-bold">DM</div>
        <a href="/" className="block bg-blue-500 text-white px-4 py-2 rounded hover:bg-blue-600">Get Started</a>
      </div>
    </nav>
  );
}

Now, by replacing the nested flex items-center divs with contents, the child elements (links) behave as if they are direct children of the nav element. This removes unnecessary layout issues while keeping the structure clean.

Benefits of Using display: contents

• Cleaner HTML: You maintain the structural organization of your HTML without affecting the flexbox layout.
• Responsive Layouts: Your navbar remains flexible and responsive since the links now directly inherit the parent container's flex properties.
• Simplified Styling: Using display: contents ensures that layout properties like margin, padding, and alignment apply smoothly to child elements.

Potential Caveats

Although display: contents is a great tool, there are some caveats:

1. Browser Support: While most modern browsers support display: contents, some older browsers (like Internet Explorer) may not. Check its compatibility here.
2. Accessibility Concerns: Sometimes, using display: contents can interfere with accessibility tools, such as screen readers. Always test your site for accessibility when using this property.

Conclusion

Using display: contents with Tailwind CSS is a powerful way to apply flexbox styles to child wrapper elements without disrupting your layout. It allows you to keep a clean and structured HTML while maintaining full control over styling and responsiveness. Next time you work on a navbar or similar layout, consider using display: contents for a cleaner, more efficient solution.