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I'm trying to make sense of the CSS float property, and I understand the basic motivation of text flowing around a floated image. My question is this: since inline elements flow around floated elements, even if if those inline elements are children of non-floated block-level elements, can we somehow consider the text inside the paragraph element to be inline? I'm trying to form a good mental model of what is happening. Thanks.

mskfisher
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worker1138
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2 Answers2

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From the CSS spec:

Any text that is directly contained inside a block container element (not inside an inline element) must be treated as an anonymous inline element.

So it's an inline box generated by a block element as opposed to an inline box generated by an inline element. Anonymous only means that it doesn't have an associated inline element.

melhosseiny
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<p> is a block element. <p> cannot enclose other block elements. Text inside of <p> is inline by default.

Vin Burgh
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  • I'm sure that block-level elements can enclose other block-level elements...maybe I don't understand what you mean by inline-block? – worker1138 Feb 01 '12 at 22:38
  • Yes, you're right, block elements can enclose other block-level elements. However,

    is an exception to the rule; it's a block element that was never designed nor intended to act as a container for other block elements.

     – Vin Burgh Feb 01 '12 at 22:41
  • Yes, that makes sense, thanks for highlighting that exception, I was not aware of it until now. – worker1138 Feb 01 '12 at 22:42