CSS Float

The CSS float property is a positioning property. It is used to push an element to the left or right, allowing other element to wrap around it. It is generally used with images and layouts.

To understand its purpose and origin, let's take a look to its print display. In the print display, image is set into the page such that text wraps around it as needed.

Its web layout is also just similar to print layout.

How it works

Elements are floated only horizontally. So it is possible only to float elements left or right, not up or down.

1. A floated element may be moved as far to the left or the right as possible. Simply, it means that a floated element can display at extreme left or extreme right.
2. The elements after the floating element will flow around it.
3. The elements before the floating element will not be affected.
4. If the image floated to the right, the texts flow around it, to the left and if the image floated to the left, the text flows around it, to the right.

CSS Float Properties

CSS Float Property Values

CSS Float Property Example

Let's see a simple example to understand the CSS float property.