Reflex

Reflex is an advanced frontend framework based on the CSS flexbox layout module. Build and style complex UIs, layouts, grids and objects with ease. Apply flexbox properties to elements quickly with an intuitive shorthand command syntax.

Features

Usage

• Simple syntax and intuitive APIs make learning and using Reflex easy.

Grid

• Powerful and simple [data-grid] API.
• Fully responsive and customizable.
• Complete vendor prefixing.
• Grid trait system.
• Add/override default breakpoints, columns, traits and more.

Layout

• Control gutters with the responsive data-gutter API.
• Control height with the responsive data-spacer API.

Shorthand

• Apply flexbox properties with intuitive shorthand commands.
• Use shorthand commands via mixins or the [data-flex] and [class] APIs.

CSS Resetting

• Ships with normalize.css.
• Custom resetting available.

Browser compatibility

• All flexbox properties are fully vendor prefixed.

Developers

• Customize breakpoints, classes, values, metrics and vocabulary using the _custom.scss partial.

Table of contents

• Table of contents
• 1.0: The Grid
  • 1.1: 12-columns
  • 1.2: Breakpoints
  • 1.3: Grid areas
  • 1.4: Grid traits
    • Gap
    • Flex-wrap
    • Justify-content
    • Align-items
• 2.0: Layout
  • 2.1: Gutters
  • 2.1: Spacers
• 3.0: Shorthand
  • 3.1: Singular
  • 3.2: Grouped
• 4.0: Customizing Reflex

1.0: The Grid

The data-grid API makes creating responsive grids and grid items simple.

1.1: 12-columns

Reflex uses a 12-column system to define the width of elements.

Column example

data-grid="12" makes the element 12 columns wide (100%). Writing data-grid="6" would make the item 6 out of 12 columns wide (50%).

<div class="item" data-grid="12"></div>

/* data-grid="12" in CSS is equivalent to... */

.item {
    width: 100%;
}

TLDR: Numbers 1-12 control element width based on a 12-column system.

1.2: Breakpoints

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Breakpoints allow us to change the width of an element at certain screen sizes.

Breakpoint syntax

• blank = 0px
• xs = 480px
• s = 576px
• m = 768px
• l = 960px
• xl = 1056px

Breakpoint example

blank xs s m l xl represent breakpoints. We can control the width of the item relative to the screensize by using these letters. This is what makes the system responsive.

<div class="item" data-grid="12 s6 m4"></div>

/* data-grid="12 s6 m4" in CSS is equivalent to... */

/* 12 */
.item {
    width: 100%;
}

/* s6 */
@media (min-width: 576px) {
    .item {
        width: 50%;
    }
}

/* m4 */
@media (min-width: 768px) {
    .item {
        width: 33.3%;
    }
}

TLDR: Letters s m l xl control element width relative to screensize.

1.3: Grid areas

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Grid areas are used to apply traits to grid items.

Grid area example

It is common to have spacing between grid items especially boxes. By enclosing 4 grid items in a grid area, we can apply a gap trait easily. gap-2 adds a 12px gap between the grid items.

<div class="parent area" data-grid="area gap-2">

    <div class="child item" data-grid="12 s6"></div>
    <div class="child item" data-grid="12 s6"></div>
    <div class="child item" data-grid="12 s6"></div>
    <div class="child item" data-grid="12 s6"></div>

</div>

TLDR: Grid areas apply traits to enclosed grid items.

1.4: Grid traits

Gap

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Gaps add spacing between grid items.

Default gap values

• gap-1 adds a 6px gap between grid items.
• gap-2 adds a 12px gap between grid items.
• gap-3 adds a 18px gap between grid items.
• gap-4 adds a 24px gap between grid items.
• gap-5 adds a 30px gap between grid items.
• gap-6 adds a 36px gap between grid items.
• gap-7 adds a 48px gap between grid items.
• gap-8 adds a 60px gap between grid items.

Gap examples

<!-- Apply a 12px gap between children -->
<div data-grid="area gap-2">

    <div data-grid="12 s6"></div>
    <div data-grid="12 s6"></div>

</div>

<!-- Apply a 24px gap between children -->
<div data-grid="area gap-4">

    <div data-grid="12 s6"></div>
    <div data-grid="12 s6"></div>

</div>

Flex-wrap

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flex-wrap controls grid item wrapping

Values

• reverse or fw-wr reverses the order of grid items.
• no-wrap or fw-nw disable wrapping of grid items.

Example

<!-- Reverses order of grid items (4,3,2,1) -->
<div data-grid="area reverse">

    <div class="item-1"></div>
    <div class="item-2"></div>
    <div class="item-3"></div>
    <div class="item-4"></div>

</div>

Justify-content

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By default, grid areas use justify-content: flex-start; to orient grid items. To adjust this orientation simple use one of the following commands when declaring a grid area.

Values

• jc-sb Change justify-content value to space-between
• jc-c Change justify-content value to center
• jc-fe Change justify-content value to flex-end

Example

<div data-grid="area jc-sb"></div>

Align-items

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By default, grid areas use align-items: stretch; to orient grid items. To adjust this orientation simple use one of the following commands when declaring a grid area.

Align-items values

• ai-fs Change align-items value to space-between
• ai-c Change align-items value to center
• ai-fe Change align-items value to flex-end

Align-items example

<div data-grid="area ai-fs"></div>

2.0: Layout

2.1: Gutters

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The [data-gutter] API helps create responsive gutters. Gutters can be used in layouts and elements to apply padding to an element. This API can apply padding to an element in any direction (top right bottom left) and change it responsively using breakpoints.

Gutter syntax

Breakpoints (See Section)

Direction

• a = top right bottom left
• v = top bottom
• h = right left
• t = top
• r = right
• b = bottom
• l = left

Padding

• 0 = 0px
• 1 = 6px
• 2 = 12px
• 3 = 18px
• 4 = 24px
• 5 = 30px
• 6 = 36px
• 7 = 48px
• 8 = 60px

Gutter syntax examples

• data-gutter="a4 sa5 ma6"
• data-gutter="v4 sv5 mv6 h6 sh7 sh8"
• data-gutter="t4 r5 b6 l7"

Gutter example 1

<!-- Adds padding in all ('a') directions to section element -->
<section data-gutter="a4 sa5 ma6">
    <h1>Hello world</h1>
</section>

/* data-gutter="a4 sa5 ma6" in CSS is equivalent to... */

/* a4 */
section {
    padding-top: 24px;
    padding-right: 24px;
    padding-bottom: 24px;
    padding-left: 24px;
}

/* sa5 */
@media (min-width: 576px) {
    section {
        padding-top: 30px;
        padding-right: 30px;
        padding-bottom: 30px;
        padding-left: 30px;
    }
}

/* ma6 */
@media (min-width: 768px) {
    section {
        padding-top: 36px;
        padding-right: 36px;
        padding-bottom: 36px;
        padding-left: 36px;
    }
}

Gutter example 2

<!-- We can also target the vertical and horizontal directions using 'v' or 'h' -->
<section data-gutter="v4 sv5 mv6">
    <h1>Hello world</h1>
</section>

/* data-gutter="v4 sv5 mv6" in CSS is equivalent to... */

/* v4 */
section {
    padding-top: 24px;
    padding-bottom: 24px;
}

/* sv5 */
@media (min-width: 576px) {
    section {
        padding-top: 30px;
        padding-bottom: 30px;
    }
}

/* mv6 */
@media (min-width: 768px) {
    section {
        padding-top: 36px;
        padding-bottom: 36px;
    }
}

Gutter example 3

<!-- Finally we can target specific directions using 't', 'r', 'b' and 'l' -->
<section data-gutter="t4 r5 b6 l7">
    <h1>Hello world</h1>
</section>

/* data-gutter="v4 sv5 mv6" in CSS is equivalent to... */

section {
    /* t4 */
    padding-top: 24px;

    /* r5 */
    padding-right: 30px;

    /* b6 */
    padding-bottom: 36px;

    /* l7 */
    padding-left: 48px;
}

2.1: Spacers

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The [data-spacer] API helps create responsively adjust height. Spacers are typically used to stylize elements.

Spacer syntax

Breakpoints (See Section)

Height

• 0 = 0px
• 1 = 60px
• 2 = 84px
• 3 = 120px
• 4 = 168px
• 5 = 228px
• 6 = 300px
• 7 = 384px
• 8 = 480px
• 9 = 540px
• 10 = 600px
• 11 = 660px
• 12 = 720px

Spacer example

<!-- Creates an element with responsive height -->
<div class="box" data-spacer="4 s5 m6"></div>

/* data-spacer="4 s5 m6" in CSS is equivalent to... */

/* a4 */
.box {
    min-height: 168px;
}

/* s5 */
@media (min-width: 576px) {
    .box {
        min-height: 228px;
    }
}

/* m6 */
@media (min-width: 768px) {
    .box {
        min-height: 300px;
    }
}

3.0: Shorthand

3.1: Singular

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Apply singular flexbox properties to elements quickly using a shorthand syntax. This syntax can be declared using mixins ONLY.

3.1.1: Singular syntax

display

• d-f = display: flex;
• d-if = display: inline-flex;

flex-direction

• fd-r = flex-direction: row;
• fd-rr = flex-direction: row-reverse;
• fd-c = flex-direction: column;
• fd-cr = flex-direction: column-reverse;

flex-wrap

• fw-w = flex-wrap: wrap;
• fw-wr = flex-wrap: wrap-reverse;
• fw-nw = flex-wrap: no-wrap;

justify-content

• jc-c = justify-content: center;
• jc-fs = justify-content: flex-start;
• jc-fe = justify-content: flex-end;
• jc-sb = justify-content: space-between;
• jc-sa = justify-content: space-around;

align-items

• ai-c = align-items: center;
• ai-fs = align-items: flex-start;
• ai-fe = align-items: flex-end;
• ai-s = align-items: stretch;
• ai-b = align-items: baseline;

align-self

• as-a = align-self: auto;
• as-c = align-self: center;
• as-fs = align-self: flex-start;
• as-fe = align-self: flex-end;
• as-sb = align-self: space-between;
• as-sa = align-self: space-around;
• as-s = align-self: stretch;

3.1.2: Singular examples

// Mixins

// SCSS
.item-1 {
    @include d-f;
    @include fd-r;
    @include fw-w;
    @include js-c;
    @include ai-c;
}

// Compiled CSS
.item-1 {
    display: flex;
    align-items: center;
    flex-direction: row;
    flex-wrap: wrap;
    justify-content: center;
}

3.2: Grouped

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Apply multiple properties at once using command sequences. This is by far the most efficient way to use the flexbox shorthand syntax and we recommend it.

3.2.1: Grouped syntax

Each command sequence is structured as such: fluid (Optional)-flex-direction-justify-content-align-items. Sequences can be declared as mixins or used in the inline HTML APIs.

fluid

• f = width: 100%; margin: 0 auto;
• fr = width: 100%; margin: 0 0 0 auto;
• fl = width: 100%; margin: 0 auto 0 0;
• f_ = width: 100%;

Examples

• f-r-c-c
• fr-r-c-c
• fl-r-c-c
• f_r-c-c

flex-direction

• r = flex-direction: row;
• c = flex-direction: column;

justify-content

• c = justify-content: center;
• fs = justify-content: flex-start;
• fe = justify-content: flex-end;
• sb = justify-content: space-between;
• sa = justify-content: space-around;

align-items

• c = align-items: center;
• fs = align-items: flex-start;
• fe = align-items: flex-end;
• s = align-items: stretch;

3.2.2: Grouped examples

Mixin

///
/// Command sequence mixins
///
/// Argument 1: fluid (Optional)
/// Argument 2: flex-direction
/// Argument 3: justify-content
/// Argument 4: align-items
///

// Example 1: row-center-center
.item-1 {
    @include r-c-c;
}

// Example 1: Compiled CSS
.item-1 {
    display: flex;
    align-items: center;
    flex-direction: row;
    flex-wrap: wrap;
    justify-content: center;
    position: relative;
}

// Example 2: column-center-center
.item-2 {
    @include c-c-c;
}

// Example 2: Compiled CSS
.item-2 {
    display: flex;
    align-items: center;
    flex-direction: column;
    justify-content: center;
    position: relative;
}

// Example 3: fluid-row-center-center
.item-3 {
    @include f-r-c-c;
}

// Example 3: Compiled CSS
.item-3 {
    display: flex;
    align-items: center;
    flex-direction: row;
    flex-wrap: wrap;
    justify-content: center;
    position: relative;
    margin-right: auto;
    margin-left: auto;
    width: 100%;
}

Inline

<!-- [data-flex] -->
<div class="item-1" data-flex="r-c-c"></div>
<div class="item-1" data-flex="c-c-c"></div>
<div class="item-1" data-flex="f-r-c-c"></div> 

<!-- [class] -->
<div class="item-2 r-c-c"></div>
<div class="item-2 c-c-c"></div>
<div class="item-2 f-r-c-c"></div>  

4.0: Customizing Reflex

4.1: Adding new values and overriding default values

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• Defaults are stored in classes/_default.scss
• The classes/_custom.scss partial can be used to add, override and remove values default values.

Example 1: Add a new breakpoint

/// File: classes/_default.scss
$default-breakpoints: (
    "0": (
        "class": "",
        "width": 0
    ),
    "1": (
        "class": "xs",
        "width": 480
    ),
    "2": (
        "class": "s",
        "width": 576
    ),
    "3": (
        "class": "m",
        "width": 768
    ),
    "4": (
        "class": "l",
        "width": 960
    ),
    "5": (
        "class": "xl",
        "width": 1056
    ),
);

/// File: classes/_custom.scss
// Add "xxl" breakpoint
$custom-breakpoints: (
    "6": (
        "class": "xxl",
        "width": 1152
    ),
);

Example 2: Override a default breakpoint

/// File: classes/_default.scss
// We are going to override "1" and make the width 500.
$default-breakpoints: (
    "0": (
        "class": "",
        "width": 0
    ),
    "1": (
        "class": "xs",
        "width": 480
    ),
    "2": (
        "class": "s",
        "width": 576
    ),
    "3": (
        "class": "m",
        "width": 768
    ),
    "4": (
        "class": "l",
        "width": 960
    ),
    "5": (
        "class": "xl",
        "width": 1056
    ),
);

/// File: classes/_custom.scss
$custom-breakpoints: (
    "1": (
        "class": "xs",
        "width": 500
    ),
);

Example 3: Remove a breakpoint

/// File: classes/_default.scss
$default-breakpoints: (
    "0": (
        "class": "",
        "width": 0
    ),
    "1": (
        "class": "xs",
        "width": 480
    ),
    "2": (
        "class": "s",
        "width": 576
    ),
    "3": (
        "class": "m",
        "width": 768
    ),
    "4": (
        "class": "l",
        "width": 960
    ),
    "5": (
        "class": "xl",
        "width": 1056
    ),
);

/// File: classes/_custom.scss
// Key removal
$default-breakpoints: map.remove($default-breakpoints, "1");