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React - Component Full Screen (with height 100%)

web-development
responsive-design
css
javascript
Alex KataevbyAlex Kataev·Nov 20, 2024
TLDR

Quickly transform your React component into a full-screen force with CSS and 100% viewport height:

body, html, #root { height: 100%; margin: 0; }
function FullScreenComponent() { return <div style={{ height: '100vh' }}>Your content here</div>; }

This configuration expands your component to fill the entire height of the browser window, overruling the height of any content within.

Ensuring inheritance and viewport heights

To create a truly full-screen component in React, make sure all parent containers up to the root also adopt the intended height. This can be achieved by:

html, body, #root, .fullScreen { height: 100%; }

Pro Tip: Use the viewport height vh unit to override any parental controls. With vh, the height of the viewport dictates the height of the element.

.fullScreen { height: 100vh; /* Because parents just don't understand */ }

Just remember to be cautious when dealing with position: absolute; elements or modals as this can mess with your layouts.

Refining with advanced targeting

Ever tried to style a React Root element directly but found it inaccessible? Or maybe you wanted an uber-global style for all your components?

CSS property selector to the rescue!

body > #root > div { height: 100%; /* Target Acquired! */ }

Going full Bond-style target-specific, you can even avoid the !important rule:

body > #root > .yourSpecificComponent { height: 100%; /* This div. This one right here. */ }

A more structured CSS approach helps things run smoothly when working on a large React application. It's all about strong foundations!

Enhancing responsive design and utilising development tools

Responsive full-screen components are the life of the party on all devices. Chrome Developer Tools helps you watch over their shenanigans and see any style bullies live.

@media (orientation: portrait) { .fullScreen { height: 100vh; /* Portrait of the artist as a young component */ } } @media (orientation: landscape) { .fullScreen { height: 50vh; /* I can see my house from here! */ } }

Always inspect, always adapt - dealing with conflicting styles? The Chrome Dev Tools will turn you into a style detective in no time!

Tips, tricks, and pitfalls

  • !important is like a superhero; use it sparingly and only when necessary.
  • Nested elements can be bothersome. If you're using percent (%) height, make sure the parent heights play nice too!
  • position: absolute; - use it wisely. It's a Jedi power, not toy. It has the power to disrupt the regular document flow.