How to make div not larger than its contents?

Question

I have a layout similar to:

<div>
    <table>
    </table>
</div>

I would like for the div to only expand to as wide as my table becomes.

Answer 1

A CSS2 compatible solution is to use:

.my-div
{
    min-width: 100px;
}

You can also float your div which will force it as small as possible, but you'll need to use a clearfix if anything inside your div is floating:

.my-div
{
    float: left;
}

Answer 2

I tried div.classname{display:table-cell;} and it worked!

Answer 3

The answer for your question lays in the future my friend ...

namely "intrinsic" is coming with the latest CSS3 update

width: intrinsic;

unfortunately IE is behind with it so it doesn't support it yet

More about it: CSS Intrinsic & Extrinsic Sizing Module Level 3 and Can I Use?: Intrinsic & Extrinsic Sizing.

For now you have to be satisfied with <span> or <div> set to

display: inline-block;

Answer 4

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
<tr>
<td>

    <div id="content_lalala">
        this content inside the div being inside a table, needs no inline properties and the table is the one expanding to the content of this div =)
    </div>

</td>
</tr>
</table>

I know people don't like tables sometimes, but I gotta tell you, I tried the css inline hacks, and they kinda worked in some divs but in others didn't, so, it was really just easier to enclose the expanding div in a table...and...it can have or not the inline property and still the table is the one that's gonna hold the total width of the content. =)

Answer 5

We can use any of the two ways on the div element:

display: table;

or,

display: inline-block; 

I prefer to use display: table;, because it handles, all extra spaces on its own. While display: inline-block needs some extra space fixing.

Answer 6

You can try fit-content (CSS3):

div {
  width: fit-content; 
  /* To adjust the height as well */ 
  height: fit-content;
}

• Browser support
• Specification