Container
<gcds-container>

Also called: wrapper, box.

A container is a basic box layout with a set width for its contents.

• GitHub
• Figma

Build a container

Use containers to add a wrapper element with a defined maximum width, providing a container for other content and components that are typically arranged vertically from top to bottom.

Code and accessibility for containers

Limit width of content

• Keep text line length below 65 characters for a comfortable, accessible reading length.
• Limit column width to stop large screens from displaying lines of text that are overly long and difficult to read.
• Avoid exceeding the maximum width of 71.25rem (1140px) wide.

Add a container size

The size property sets the size of the container. It comes in 6 sizes:

By default, the container size will be set to full which means it will take up the entire width of the parent container.

Align content with the page layout

Use layout="page" to visually align page content with the header and footer.

When layout is set to page, the container:

• Uses a maximum width of 71.25rem (1140px).
• Is centred automatically within the viewport.
• Switches to 90% width on smaller screens.
• Matches the layout behaviour of the header and footer components.

Using layout="page" ensures content maintains a consistent width, alignment, and reading experience across breakpoints. When layout is set to page, there is no need to define a container size or set alignment, as the page layout automatically controls width and alignment.

Position the container

Use the alignment attribute to control how a container is positioned within its parent. It supports three options:

• start - position the container horizontally to the start of the available space.
• center - centres the container horizontally.
• end - position the container horizontally to the end of the available space.

Note: When the layout attribute is set to page, the alignment attribute is ignored, the page layout automatically manages width and centring.

Get your code

Generate an instance of the component you need by selecting its code properties.

1. Explore by choosing different code values to generate the instance you want.

2. Get the code and pull it into your environment.

3. Add any copy you need to the component (like text for a label).

Note: The code builder uses English for all code elements, which follows standard practice.