Overview.bs

<pre class='metadata'>
Title: CSS Grid Layout Module Level 3
Shortname: css-grid
Level: 3
Status: ED
Work Status: Exploring
Group: csswg
ED: https://drafts.csswg.org/css-grid-3/
Editor: Tab Atkins Jr., Google, http://www.xanthir.com/contact/, w3cid 42199
Editor: Elika J. Etemad / fantasai, Apple, http://fantasai.inkedblade.net/contact, w3cid 35400
Editor: Mats Palmgren, Mozilla, mailto:mats@mozilla.com
Editor: Jen Simmons, Apple, http://jensimmons.com/
Editor: Brandon Stewart, Apple, https://brandonstewart.net
Abstract: This module introduces masonry layout as an additional layout mode for <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/css-grid-2/">CSS Grid</a> containers.
WPT Path Prefix: css/css-grid/masonry/tentative/
Markup Shorthands: css yes
</pre>


<h2 id='intro'>
Introduction</h2>

	<em>This section is not normative.</em>

	Grid Layout is a layout model for CSS
	that has powerful abilities to control the sizing and positioning
	of boxes and their contents.
	Grid Layout is optimized for 2-dimensional layouts:
	those in which alignment of content is desired in both dimensions.

	<figure>
		<img src="images/grid-layout.png"
		     alt="An example of grid layout:
		     two rows of items,
		     the first being four items &mdash; the last of which spans both rows,
		     and the second being two items &mdash;
		     the first of which spans the first two columns &mdash;
		     plus the spanned item from the first row.">
		<figcaption>Representative Grid layout example</figcaption>
	</figure>

	Although many layouts can be expressed with regular Grid Layout,
	restricting items into a grid in both axes also makes it impossible
	to express some common layouts on the Web.

	This module defines a layout system that removes that restriction
	so that items can be placed into Grid-like tracks in just one of the axes,
	while stacking them one after another in the other axis.
	Items are placed into the column (or row) with the most remaining space
	based on the layout size of the items placed so far.
	This module also extends <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/css-grid-2/">CSS Grid</a>
	with this new grid item placement strategy
	and <a href="https://drafts.csswg.org/css-align">CSS Box Alignment</a> with new alignment features.

<h3 id='background'>
Background and Motivation</h3>

	<dfn>Masonry layout</dfn> is a common Web design pattern where a number of items--
	commonly images or short article summaries--
	are placed one by one into columns
	in a way that loosely resembles stone masonry.
	Unlike [[CSS-MULTICOL-1|multi-column layout]],
	where content is placed vertically in the first column
	until it must spills over to the second column,
	[=masonry layout=] selects a column for each new item
	such that it is generally closer to the top of the layout than items placed later.

	<div class="example">
		The Pinterest search results page exemplifies this layout:

		<figure>
			<img src="images/pinterest.png"
			     alt="An example of masonry layout:
			          four columns of items,
			          each item is placed into the column with the smallest height so far.">
			<figcaption>Representative masonry layout example</figcaption>
		</figure>

		Here, each item has a different height
		(depending on the content and the width of the column),
		and inspecting the DOM reveals
		(as the visual content itself gives no indication of ordering)
		that each item has been placed into the column with the smallest height so far.
	</div>

	This layout superficially looks similar to multi-column layout;
	but it has the advantage that scrolling down
	will naturally lead to "later" items in the layout
	(that is, those less relevant in the search results).

	It's not possible to achieve this layout using earlier CSS layout models,
	unless you know up-front how tall each item will be,
	or use JavaScript for content measurement or placement.

<h3 id="values">
Value Definitions</h3>

	This specification follows the <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/about.html#property-defs">CSS property definition conventions</a> from [[!CSS2]]
	using the <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/css-values-3/#value-defs">value definition syntax</a> from [[!CSS-VALUES-3]].
	Value types not defined in this specification are defined in CSS Values &amp; Units [[!CSS-VALUES-3]].
	Combination with other CSS modules may expand the definitions of these value types.

	In addition to the property-specific values listed in their definitions,
	all properties defined in this specification
	also accept the <a>CSS-wide keywords</a> as their property value.
	For readability they have not been repeated explicitly.

<h2 id='grid-template-masonry'>
Masonry Layout</h2>

	<pre class='propdef partial'>
		Name: grid-template-columns, grid-template-rows
		New values: masonry
		Initial: none
		Applies to: [=grid containers=]
		Inherited: no
		Percentages: refer to corresponding dimension of the content area
		Computed value: the keyword ''grid-template-columns/none'' or the keyword ''grid-template-columns/masonry'' or a [[computed track list]]
		Animation type: see [[css-grid-2#track-sizing|CSS Grid Level 2]]
	</pre>

	[=Masonry layout=] can be applied to [=grid containers=]
	by specifying the value ''grid-template-columns/masonry'' for one of its axes.
	This axis is called the <dfn local-lt="masonry-axis">masonry axis</dfn>,
	and the other axis is called the <dfn local-lt="grid-axis">grid axis</dfn>.

	The full power of [=grid layout=] is available in the [=grid axis=].
	Line names and track sizes can be specified on the [=grid container=],
	and [=grid items=] can be placed into the tracks and span them
	using 'grid-column' / 'grid-row' as usual.
	The [=box alignment properties=] work the same as in a regular [=grid container=]
	in the [=grid axis=].

	In the [=masonry axis=] however,
	items are laid out one after another using the [[#masonry-layout-algorithm]].

	<div class="example">
		Here's a masonry layout <a href="examples/pinterest-with-span.html">example</a>
		demonstrating placed and spanning items:

		<figure>
			<img src="images/example-pinterest-with-span.png">
			<figcaption>Rendering of the example above.</figcaption>
		</figure>
	</div>

	Subgrid [=grid items=] are supported,
	but subgridding only occurs in the [=grid container's=] [=grid axis=];
	see [[#subgrids]] for details.

	If ''grid-template-columns/masonry'' is specified
	for both ''grid-template-columns'' and ''grid-template-rows'',
	then the [=used value=] for ''grid-template-columns'' is ''grid-template-columns/none'',
	and thus the [=inline axis=] will be the [=grid axis=].

	[=Grid items=] are formed and [=blockified=]
	exactly the same as in a regular [=grid container=].

	All CSS properties work the same as in a regular [=grid container=]
	unless otherwise specified by this specification.
	For example, ''order'' can be used to specify a different layout order for the items.

<h3 id="line-name-resolution">
Line Name Resolution</h3>

	[=Grid item=] line name resolution works the same as if
	''grid-template-columns/masonry'' were replaced with ''grid-template-columns/none'',
	i.e. line names are resolved <em>in both axes</em>.
	The [[css-grid-2#line-placement|line name resolution]]
	works exactly is in <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/css-grid/">CSS Grid</a>.

<h3 id="track-sizing">
Grid Axis Track Sizing</h3>

	Track sizing works the same as in [[css-grid-2#algo-track-sizing|CSS Grid]],
	except that when considering which items contribute to intrinsic sizes:
	* All items explicitly placed in that track contribute, and
	* All items without an explicit placement contribute
		(regardless of whether they are ultimately placed in that track).

	<div class="example">
		For example, suppose there are two columns in the [=grid axis=]
		and that
		* Items A, B, and C have no explicit placement.
		* Item D is explicitly placed into the first column.

		In this case, items A, B, C, and D all contribute to sizing the first column,
		while only A, B, and C (and not D) contribute to the second column.
	</div>

	In the case of spanning items with no explicit placement,
	they are assumed to be placed at every possible start position,
	and contribute accordingly.

	<div class="example">
		For example, suppose there are 5 columns in the [=grid axis=],
		with the middle having a fixed size of ''100px''
		and the other two being ''auto''-sized.
		For the purpose of track sizing,
		an item that spans 2 tracks
		and has an intrinsic contribution of 220px
		is essentially copied and assumed to exist:

		* At grid line 1,
			contributing 110px to each of the first two tracks.
		* At grid line 2,
			contributing 120px to the second track.
		* At grid line 3,
			contributing 120px to the fourth track.
		* At grid line 4,
			contributing 110px to the fourth and fifth tracks.
	</div>

	Note: This algorithm ensures that each track is at least big enough
	to accommodate every item that is ultimately placed in it,
	and does not create dependency cycles between placement and track sizing.
	However, depending on the variation in sizes,
	tracks could be larger than necessary:
	an exact fit is only guaranteed if
	all items are explicitly placed in the [=grid axis=]
	or all items are the same size
	(or matching multiples of that size, in the case of spanning items).

<h4 id="repeat-auto-fit">
repeat(auto-fit)</h3>

	''grid-template-rows/repeat(auto-fit)'' behaves as ''grid-template-rows/repeat(auto-fill)''
	when the other axis is a [=masonry axis=].
	The reason for this is that ''grid-row/auto''-placed items depend
	on the layout size of their siblings.
	Removing empty tracks after layout wouldn't be possible in most cases
	since it might affect any intrinsic track sizes.
	Even if all track sizes are definite,
	the containing block size could change for grid-aligned absolutely-positioned descendants.
	This makes ''grid-template-rows/repeat(auto-fit)''
	impossible to support in a [=grid container=] with [=masonry layout=].

<h3 id="masonry-layout-algorithm">
Masonry Layout Algorithm</h3>

	Items are placed in [=order-modified document order=],
	but items with a definite placement are placed
	before items with an indefinite position (as in regular grid layout).

	For each of the tracks in the [=grid axis=],
	keep a <dfn>running position</dfn> initialized to zero.
	First for each item with a definite placement in the [=grid axis=],
	then for each item with an indefinite placement:
	<ol>
		<li>
			If the item has an definite placement in the [=grid axis=],
			use that placement.
			Otherwise, resolve its [=grid axis=] placement using these substeps:

			<ol>
				<li>Starting at the first [=grid axis=] line in the [=implicit grid=].
				<li>Find the largest [=running position=] of the [=grid axis=] tracks
					that the item would span if it were placed at this line,
					and call this position <var>max_pos</var>.
				<li>Increment the line number and repeat step 2
					until the item would no longer fit inside the grid.
				<li>Pick the line that resulted in the smallest <var>max_pos</var>
					as the item's definite placement in the [=grid axis=].
			</ol>

		<li>
			Place the item in its [=grid axis=] tracks
			at the maximum of the [=running position=]s
			of the tracks it spans.

		<li>
			Calculate the size of the item's <a href="#containing-block">containing block</a>
			and then layout the item.
			Then calculate its resulting [=margin box=] in the [=masonry axis=].
			Set the [=running position=] of the spanned  [=grid axis=] tracks
			to <code><var>max_pos</var> + <var>margin-box-end</var> + <var>grid-gap</var></code>.
	</ol>

<h3 id="masonry-auto-flow">
The ''masonry-auto-flow'' Property</h3>

	The [[#masonry-layout-algorithm]] above can be modified in two ways, using the new 'masonry-auto-flow' property:

	<pre class='propdef'>
		Name: masonry-auto-flow
		Value: [ pack | next ] || [definite-first | ordered ]
		Initial: pack
		Applies to: [=grid containers=] with [=masonry layout=]
		Inherited: no
		Percentages: n/a
		Computed value: specified keyword(s)
		Animation type: discrete
	</pre>


	First, picking definite items first for placement can be inhibited
	by specifying the ''masonry-auto-flow/ordered'' keyword
	so that a plain [=order-modified document order=] is used instead.
	Second, instead of placing the items in the track(s) with the most remaining space as described above
	we can place them one after another in the [=grid axis=]
	by specifying the ''masonry-auto-flow/next'' keyword,
	for <a href="examples/masonry-auto-flow-next.html">example</a>:

	<div class="example">
		```css
			<style>
			.grid {
			  display: inline-grid;
			  grid: masonry / repeat(3, 2ch);
			  border: 1px solid;
			  masonry-auto-flow: next;
			}

			item { background: silver }
			item:nth-child(2n+1) {
			  background: pink;
			  height: 4em;
			}
			</style>
		```
		```html
			<div class="grid">
			  <item>1</item>
			  <item>2</item>
			  <item>3</item>
			  <item>4</item>
			</div>
		```

		<figure>
			<img src="images/grid-auto-flow-example-1.png">
			<figcaption>Rendering of the ''masonry-auto-flow: next'' example above.</figcaption>
		</figure>

		(Without ''masonry-auto-flow: next'', item 4 would be placed below item 2.)

	</div>

<h2 id="containing-block">
Containing Block</h2>

	The [=containing block=] for a [=grid item=] participating in [=masonry layout=]
	is formed by its [=grid area=] in the [=grid axis=]
	and the [=grid container=]'s [=content box=] in the [=masonry axis=].

<h2 id="implicit-grid">
The Implicit Grid</h2>

	The [=implicit grid=] is formed in the same way as for a regular [=grid container=].
	However, it's only used in the [=grid axis=].
	The flow axis specified by ''grid-auto-flow'' is ignored:
	items are always placed by filling the [=grid axis=].
	''direction:rtl'' reverses the grid if the [=inline axis=] is the [=grid axis=]
	(as usual for a regular [=grid container=])
	and it makes items flow from right to left if the [=inline axis=] is the [=masonry axis=].

	<div class="example">
		Here's a simple <a href="examples/rtl-grid-axis.html">example</a> using ''direction: rtl'' in the [=grid axis=]:

		```css
		<style>
			.grid {
			  display: inline-grid;
			  direction: rtl;
			  grid: masonry / repeat(4, 2ch);
			  border: 1px solid;
			}

			item { background: silver }
			item:nth-child(2n+1) {
			  background: pink;
			  height: 4em;
			}
			</style>
		```
		```html
			<div class="grid">
			  <item>1</item>
			  <item style="grid-column:span 2">2</item>
			  <item>3</item>
			  <item>4</item>
			</div>
		```

		<figure>
			<img src="images/rtl-grid-axis.png">
			<figcaption>Rendering of the ''direction: rtl'' example above.</figcaption>
		</figure>
	</div>

	<div class="example">
		Here's a simple <a href="examples/rtl-masonry-axis.html">example</a>
		using ''direction: rtl'' in the [=masonry axis=]:

		```css
			<style>
			.grid {
			  display: inline-grid;
			  direction: rtl;
			  width: 10ch;
			  column-gap: 1ch;
			  grid: repeat(4, 2em) / masonry;
			  border: 1px solid;
			}

			item { background: silver }
			item:nth-child(2n+1) {
			  background: pink;
			  width: 4ch;
			}
			</style>
		```
		```html
			<div class="grid">
			  <item>1</item>
			  <item style="grid-row:span 2">2</item>
			  <item>3</item>
			  <item>4</item>
			</div>
		```

		<figure>
			<img src="images/rtl-masonry-axis.png">
			<figcaption>Rendering of the ''direction: rtl'' example above.</figcaption>
		</figure>
	</div>

<h2 id="intrinsic-sizes">
Sizing Grid Containers</h2>

	[[css-grid-2#intrinsic-sizes|Sizing Grid Containers]] works the same as for regular [=grid containers=]
	but with the following addendum for the [=masonry axis=]:
	The <a>max-content size</a> (<a>min-content size</a>) of a [=grid container=] in the [=masonry axis=]
	is the largest distance between the [=grid container's=] [=content-box=] [=start=] edge
	and the maximum [=margin-box=] end of all the items,
	when sized under a <a>max-content constraint</a> (<a>min-content constraint</a>).

	<div class="example">
		Here's a simple <a href="examples/grid-intrinsic-sizing-example-1.html">example</a>:

		```css
			<style>
			.grid {
			  display: inline-grid;
			  grid: masonry / 50px 100px auto;
			  grid-gap: 10px;
			  border: 1px solid;
			}
			item { background: silver; margin: 5px; }
			</style>
		```

		```html
			<div class="grid">
			  <item style="border:10px solid">1</item>
			  <item>2</item>
			  <item>3</item>
			  <item style="height:50px">4</item>
			  <item>5</item>
			  <item>6</item>
			</div>
		```

		<figure>
			<img src="images/grid-intrinsic-sizing-example-1.png">
			<figcaption>Rendering of the [=grid container=] intrinsic sizing example above.</figcaption>
		</figure>

	</div>


<h2 id="alignment">
Alignment and Spacing</h2>

	[[css-grid-2#gutters|Gutters]] are supported in both axes.
	In the [=masonry axis=],
	the gap is applied between the margin boxes of each pair of adjacent items.
	Margins do not collapse in either axis.

	In the [=grid axis=],
	[[css-grid-2#alignment|alignment]]
	works the same as in a regular [=grid container=].

	In the [=masonry axis=],
	[[css-align-3#content-distribution|content-distribution]] is applied
	to the content as a whole, similarly to how it behaves in block containers.
	More specifically, the <a>alignment subject</a> is the <dfn>masonry box</dfn>,
	which is the area between the [=content edge=] of the [=grid container=]
	and the [=end=] [=margin edge=] of the item that is the furthest away in the [=masonry axis=],
	as indicated by the dashed border here:

	<figure>
		<img src="images/masonry-box.png">
		<figcaption>
			The extent of the [=masonry box=] is indicated by the dashed border.
			(Note that item 1 has a 5px bottom margin here.)
		</figcaption>
	</figure>

	Note that there is only ever one <a>alignment subject</a>
	for these properties in the [=masonry axis=],
	so the unique 'align-content' / 'justify-content' values boil down to
	''align-content/start'',
	''align-content/center'',
	''align-content/end'',
	''align-content/stretch''
	and [=baseline alignment=].
	(''align-content/normal'' behaves as ''align-content/stretch'' as usual for [=grid containers=].)
	In the figure above, the [=grid container=] has ''align-content: start'';
	but if ''align-content'' were at its default ''align-content/normal'' value,
	then the [=masonry box=] would fill the [=grid container=]'s content box,
	due to being stretched.
	Moreover: if the grid items overflowed
	the [=grid container=]'s [=content box=] in the [=masonry axis=],
	then the [=masonry box=] would be larger than the [=grid container=]'s [=content box=].

<h3 id="masonry-axis-baseline-alignment">
Baseline Alignment in the Masonry Axis</h3>

	Item [=baseline alignment=] inside the [=grid axis=] tracks
	works as usual for a regular [=grid container=],
	and the [=grid container=]'s baseline is determined
	the same as for a regular [=grid container=] in that axis.

	[=Baseline alignment=] is not supported in the [=masonry axis=].
	The first baseline set of the [=grid container=] in this axis
	is generated from the [=alignment baseline=] of
	the first [=grid item=] in the first occupied track,
	and the last baseline set from the last [=grid item=] placed.

	ISSUE: We could support baseline alignment in the first row. Do we want to?

	ISSUE: Should the last baseline come from the last lowest item placed instead?

<h2 id="pagination">
Fragmentation</h2>

<h3 id="masonry-axis-pagination">
Fragmentation in the Masonry Axis</h3>

	Each [=grid axis=] track is fragmented independently in the [=masonry axis=].
	If a [=grid item=] is fragmented,
	or has a [=forced break=] before/after it,
	then the [=running position=] for the tracks that it spans in the [=grid axis=]
	are set to the size of the [=fragmentainer=]
	so that no further items will be placed in those tracks.
	An item that is split into multiple fragments
	retains its placement in the [=grid axis=] for all its fragments.
	A grid item that is pushed, however,
	is placed again by the next [=grid container=] fragment.
	Placement continues until all items are placed or pushed to a new fragment.

	<div class="example">
		Here's an <a href="examples/fragmentation-block-axis-example.html">example</a>
		illustrating fragmentation of a grid with masonry layout in its [=block axis=].
		It renders like this:
		<figure style="max-width:100%">
			<video style="max-width:100%" src="images/fragmentation-block-axis-example.mp4" controls></video>
			<figcaption>
				Visualization of fragmentation in a [=block-axis=] [=masonry layout=].
			</figcaption>
		</figure>
	</div>

<h3 id="grid-axis-pagination">
Fragmentation in the Grid Axis</h3>

	Fragmentation in the [=grid axis=] with [=masonry layout=] in the other axis
	is also supported.
	In this case the fragmentation behaves more like in a regular [=grid container=];
	however, there's a separate step to determine which [=grid-axis=] track
	each item is placed into,
	before fragmentation occurs.

	<div class="example">
		Here's an <a href="examples/fragmentation-inline-axis-example.html">example</a>
		illustrating fragmentation of a grid with [=masonry layout=] in its [=inline axis=].
		In this case the breaks occurs between the [=grid-axis=] rows.
		It renders like this:
		<figure style="max-width:100%">
			<video style="max-width:100%" src="images/fragmentation-inline-axis-example.mp4" controls></video>
			<figcaption>
				Visualization of fragmentation in the [=block axis=] with [=inline-axis=] [=masonry layout=].
			</figcaption>
		</figure>
	</div>

<h2 id="subgrids">
Subgrids</h2>

	[=Masonry layout=] is supported in [=subgrids=] (e.g. ''grid: subgrid / masonry''),
	and grids that use [=masonry layout|masonry=] can have subgrids as children.
	However, only a parent grid axis can be subgridded in the normal sense.
	A [=subgrid axis=] with a parent [=masonry axis=] will behave as ''grid/masonry'',
	unless the subgrid's other axis is also ''grid/masonry''
	in which case it behaves as ''grid/none''
	(because a [=grid container=] can only have one [=masonry axis=]).
	''grid-column/auto''-placed subgrids don't inherit
	any line names from their parent grid,
	because that would make the placement of the [=subgrid=]'s [=grid items=]
	dependent on layout results;
	but the subgrid's tracks are still aligned to the parent's tracks as usual.
	Here's a subgrid <a href="examples/subgrid-example-1.html">example</a>:

	<div class="example">
		```css
		<style>
		.grid {
		  display: inline-grid;
		  grid: auto auto 100px / masonry;
		  align-content: center;
		  height: 300px;
		  border: 1px solid;
		}

		.grid > * {
		  margin: 5px;
		  background: silver;
		}
		.grid > :nth-child(2n) {
		  background: pink;
		}

		.grid subgrid {
		  display: grid;
		  grid: subgrid / subgrid;
		  grid-row: 2 / span 2;
		  grid-gap: 30px;
		}
		.grid subgrid > * { background: cyan; }
		</style>
		```
		```html
		<div class="grid">
		  <item>1</item>
		  <item>2</item>
		  <item>3</item>
		  <subgrid>
		    <item style="height:100px">subgrid.1</item>
		    <item>sub.2</item>
		    <item>s.3</item>
		  </subgrid>
		  <item>4</item>
		  <item>5</item>
		  <item style="width: 80px">6</item>
		  <item>7</item>
		</div>
		```

		<figure>
			<img src="images/subgrid-example-1.png">
			<figcaption>
				The rendering of the subgrid example above.
			</figcaption>
		</figure>

		Note how the subgrid's first item ("subgrid.1") contributes
		to the intrinsic size of the 2nd row in the parent grid.
		This is possible since the subgrid specified a definite placement
		so we know which tracks it will occupy.
		Note also that trying to subgrid the parent's [=masonry axis=]
		results in the subgrid getting [=masonry layout=] in its [=inline axis=].
	</div>

<h2 id="abspos">
Absolute Positioning</h2>

	[[css-grid-1#abspos-items|Grid-aligned absolute-positioned descendants]] are supported.
	In the [=masonry axis=], all [=grid positions=] except line 1
	are treated as ''grid-area/auto''.
	Line 1 in the [=masonry axis=] corresponds to the start of the [=masonry box=]
	(which is usually also the [=start=] [=content edge=])
	and ''grid-area/auto'' uses the [=grid container=] [=padding edge=] as usual.
	The [=containing block=] is the extent of
	the tracks the item spans in the [=grid axis=]
	and the position of line 1 and the [=padding edge=] in the [=masonry axis=].

	ISSUE: It might be useful to define a static position in the [=masonry axis=].
	Maybe it could defined as the max (or min?) current [=running position=]
	of the [=grid-axis=] tracks at that point?  Or the end of the item before it?

	ISSUE: It would also be useful to be able to align the [=masonry box=] [=end=] edge somehow,
	but for that we need a way to address the <a href="https://github.com/w3c/csswg-drafts/issues/2402">end line in an implicit grid</a>,
	or could we just use any non-auto line number other than 1 to indicate the end line
	given that we don't really have any lines in this axis other than line 1?

<h2 id="performance-notes">
Performance Notes</h2>

	In general, masonry layout should have significantly better performance
	than the equivalent regular (2-axis) grid layout,
	particularly when the [=masonry axis=] is the [=block axis=]
	since the intrinsic sizing of grid rows is typically quite expensive.
	Any intrinsic track sizing in the [=grid axis=] should be cheaper too,
	because, typically, only a subset of items contribute to the intrinsic sizing in a masonry layout,
	contrary to a 2-axis grid where all items spanning an intrinsically-sized track contribute.
	Stretched items do a second layout with the new size (when it actually changed)
	so this can be costly if there are a huge amount of stretched items
	that each contains a lot of content.
	Especially nested stretched masonry layouts should be avoided
	unless they are small/trivial.

	Advisement: This can be ameliorated by the author
	by opting out from the stretching on most items though,
	e.g. specifying ''justify/align-items:start''
	and then opting in for just a few items with ''justify/align-self:stretch''
	to let those items fill the [=masonry axis=].
	(This performance analysis is from a Gecko perspective,
	but I suspect there's some truth to it for other layout engines as well.)


<h2 id="graceful-degradation">
Graceful Degradation</h2>

	Typically, a masonry design can be expected to degrade quite nicely
	in a UA that supports Grid layout but not masonry layout
	if the 'grid'/'grid-template' shorthands are avoided
	and the longhands are used instead. e.g.
	```css
	  grid-template-rows: masonry; /* ignored by UAs that don't support it */
	  grid-template-columns: 150px 100px 50px;
	```

	<div class="example">
		Here's an <a href="examples/graceful-degradation-example.html">example</a>
		to illustrate this.
		It's a layout with three columns,
		but will have "more gaps" in the [=block axis=] if the UA doesn't support masonry layout.
		Here's what it looks like with Masonry support for comparison:

		<figure>
			<video src="images/graceful-degradation-example.mp4" controls></video>
			<figcaption>
				Rendering of the example in a UA with Masonry support.
			</figcaption>
		</figure>
	</div>


<h2 id="acknowledgements">
Acknowledgements</h2>

	Thanks goes to Cameron McCormack who wrote a masonry layout explainer document
	(from which I lifted the Background chapter) and presented it to the CSSWG.
	Thanks also to everyone who provided feedback on the <a href="https://github.com/w3c/csswg-drafts/issues/4650">initial proposal</a> for this feature.