How To Center Text In HTML?

Centering text might seem simple, but the way you approach it can vary depending on the layout and structure of your page. With so many options available, it’s essential to know which method to use for different scenarios.

Still wondering how to center text in HTML?

In this article, we’ll walk through the most effective methods for centering text, helping you choose the best approach for your project.

Understanding Text Alignment in HTML and CSS

In web development, centering text refers to positioning text (or other elements) horizontally or vertically in a container. This is a fundamental layout technique, and there are several ways to achieve it.

Although HTML itself offers limited styling capabilities, CSS is where the real magic happens when it comes to text alignment. While there are several ways to center text, we’ll focus on the most common and modern methods.

How To Center Text In HTML?

There are many options available on how you can center a text in HTML. We have listed 5 different ways below:

Method 1: Using the <center> Tag (Deprecated but Still Used)

For many years, the <center> tag was the go-to method for centering text in HTML. However, it’s important to note that this tag is now considered deprecated in HTML5 and should be avoided for modern web development. The <center> tag can still be found in some older websites, but using CSS for text alignment is the recommended approach for accessibility and maintainability.

Example:

<center>This text is centered</center>

While this may work, it’s better to rely on CSS for centering text to follow best practices and ensure your website’s future-proofing.

Method 2: Using CSS text-align Property

The most common and simplest way to center text horizontally is by using the CSS text-align property. By applying text-align: center; to a container element, all inline content inside that container will be centered.

Example:

<div style=”text-align: center;”>This text is centered using text-align</div>

This method works great for centering text within block elements like <div>, <p>, and others. It’s a fast and effective way to center text horizontally.

Method 3: Using Flexbox for Centering Text

Flexbox is one of the most powerful tools in CSS for creating responsive layouts, and it’s a great option for centering text. Flexbox gives you more control over both horizontal and vertical alignment. To center text using Flexbox, you’ll need to apply the display: flex; property to the container, and then use justify-content for horizontal alignment and align-items for vertical alignment.

Example (horizontal and vertical centering):

<div style=”display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; height: 100vh;”>

    This text is centered using Flexbox

</div>

In the example above, the height: 100vh; property ensures that the container takes up the full height of the viewport, centering the text vertically. This method is particularly useful when you need both vertical and horizontal centering, such as in full-screen layouts.

Method 4: Using CSS Grid for Centering Text

CSS Grid is another modern CSS layout tool that can easily be used for centering text. With just a few lines of code, you can center text both horizontally and vertically. This method works similarly to Flexbox but offers more flexibility in handling complex layouts.

Example (horizontal and vertical centering):

<div style=”display: grid; place-items: center; height: 100vh;”>

    This text is centered using CSS Grid

</div>

Here, place-items: center; is a shorthand for centering the content both horizontally and vertically within the grid container. Just like Flexbox, CSS Grid is a fantastic choice for responsive, modern web design.

Method 5: Using margin: auto for Block Elements

If you’re working with block-level elements like <div> or <p>, you can also use margin: auto; to center the element itself. For this to work, the element must have a defined width. This method is a great way to center block elements horizontally.

Example:

<div style=”width: 50%; margin: auto;”>This block element is centered using margin auto</div>

In this example, the <div> has a width of 50% of the container, and the margin: auto; rule centers it horizontally within the parent element. This is a useful method when you don’t want to rely on text-align.

Advanced Tips and Considerations

There are a few additional considerations to ensure your design is both functional and user-friendly. Here are some important tips to keep in mind:

• Responsiveness: When working on responsive designs, it’s important to remember that different methods of centering can behave differently on different screen sizes. Flexbox and Grid are both excellent choices for responsive layouts.
• Vertical Centering: Flexbox and CSS Grid are particularly valuable when you need to vertically center text or any other content. These tools allow you to avoid the frustration of using outdated methods like line-height or position: absolute;.
• Accessibility: Always keep accessibility in mind. Ensure that your text remains readable after centering. For example, centering large amounts of text may cause usability issues, especially on smaller screens.

Conclusion

There are several ways to center text in HTML, but CSS is the key to doing it effectively. The <center> tag is an outdated method, so it’s best to use more modern solutions like text-align: center;, Flexbox, or CSS Grid. Flexbox and Grid are particularly useful when you need both horizontal and vertical centering in more complex layouts.

By using these methods, you can ensure that your web content is aligned neatly and remains accessible across devices. Experiment with these techniques to find the one that best suits your design needs.

Are none of these methods working for you? If so, then you may need to consider the help of professionals like those from Chromatix. Our team of web developers and designers can ensure that your text and layouts are strategically aligned to boost conversions through effective design techniques