When flexbox items wrap in column mode, container does not grow its width

Getting to the heart of the problem

Do you have a minute to talk about our lord and savior, Flexbox?

Flexbox is our trusted ally for providing a flexible container. A container that, like an affectionate pet, adjusts itself to make room for its child elements. But it has a stubborn behavior: in column mode, it doesn't grow its width when items wrap. This might leave you feeling betrayed, as it contradicts the natural growth in height we see in row-oriented flex containers scenarios.

Some boxes are more equal than others

This column wrapping issue is a broadcast for help from Flexbox boxes, sending us on a rescue mission to find an alternative model. Enter the grid layout, a trusted companion offering flexibility, peppered with the added benefit of more efficiently handling column wrap situations.

.grid-container {
  display: grid;                                                   /* Your flex-container: Endgame */
  grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fit, minmax(0, 1fr));         /* Auto-fit: The Thanos of CSS grid */
  grid-gap: 10px;                                                  /* Gap: Mind it, but not like a yeti */
}
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Bro, do you even write-mode?

Sometimes, a curveball like applying writing-mode: vertical-lr and text-orientation: upright becomes an effective workaround. This approach pokes the sleeping dragon i.e., the browser rendering engine in just the right spots making it interpret the layout differently:

.flex-container-alternative {
  display: flex;                                                /* Business as usual */
  writing-mode: vertical-lr;                                    /* Like Da Vinci's writings */
  text-orientation: upright;                                    /* And they stand tall */
  /* Additional styles for compatibility, because the cake is a lie */
}
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The Edge Chronicles: The Curse of Flexbox

Edge v16+ fought against the odds and resolved this cuffuffle. While we wait for other knights in shiny armor (i.e., other browsers) on the horizon, a proactive approach to rule them all involves tracking bug reports. For instance, consider attending the weekly meetings at the Chromium bug report town hall for updates on this issue.

An elegant solution for a less civilised age

The Rise of Scriptwalker

Nothing's as dynamic as JavaScript. You can balance the force by adjusting styles based on content changes. Jedi skills like device.style.flexBasis let you take command of flex item sizes, ensuring that the flex container responds faster than Han Solo's Kessel Run.

Reactive components, assemble!

Your React, Angular, or Vue frameworks can unfold a new level, a directive or component that listens for resize or content change events. These can initiate an uptick to the flex container size, ensuring a responsive and rowdy layout.

Writing in the mode of the Ancients

Writing modes and a row-oriented flex container (flex-direction: row) can provide an unexpected solution to the column wrapping issue. Be your own code whisperer and ensure browser support when embarking upon such adventures:

.flex-container-row {
  display: flex;                                            /* Flex, but not in mirror */
  flex-direction: row;                                      /* Lines so straight, Pythagoras would be jealous */
  flex-wrap: wrap;                                          /* Wraps more than Eminem */
  writing-mode: horizontal-tb;                              /* Just Firefox things */
}
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Code, the final frontier

Go boldly where no one has gone before. Explore CodePen and JSFiddle, examine the living breathing examples of grid vs. flexbox layouts. Visit https://jsfiddle.net/gcob492x/3/s for a practical implementation of the aforementioned CSS workarounds, and adjust the rhythm to suit your own style.