Comparing em
with px
When you set margin: 5em auto;
, you're defining the margin properties for an element. Let's break it down:
-
5em
: This sets the margin to 5 times the size of the current font size in the element. So if the font size of the element is, for example, 16 pixels,5em
would be equal to5 * 16px = 80px
. Theem
unit is relative to the font size of the element itself. It's commonly used for responsive design because it scales with the font size. -
auto
: This value instructs the browser to automatically calculate the margin. Whenauto
is used with horizontal margins (left and right), it equally distributes the available space on the left and right sides, effectively centering the element horizontally within its containing element.
Comparing em
with px
:
-
em
is a relative unit, meaning it's based on the font size of the element. This makes it flexible and suitable for creating designs that respond to changes in font size or zoom level. It's often used for layout spacing and dimensions in responsive web design. -
px
(pixels) is an absolute unit, meaning it's fixed and doesn't change with the size of the font or any other factor. While it offers precise control over element dimensions, it may not adapt well to different screen sizes or user preferences, potentially leading to less flexible designs.
In summary, using em
for margin (or padding) allows for more flexible and responsive layouts, while px
provides absolute control over sizing but might be less adaptable to different contexts.