padding
Box and spacing
The space inside the box; the background colour extends into it.
| How to write it | padding: 0; |
|---|---|
| Common values | 0, 1rem, 8px 16px |
| Inherited | No — it stops at this element |
| Sets all of | padding-top, padding-right, padding-bottom, padding-left |
| Category | Box and spacing |
How to read this
- An inherited property only needs writing once on the parent — every child picks it up. Most text properties work this way.
- A shorthand resets whatever you leave out. Writing background: red alone also wipes a background image you set earlier.
- When rules collide, the more specific selector wins; only when specificity ties does source order decide.
- Animate transform and opacity for smoothness. Changing width or top forces the layout to be recalculated.
Frequently asked questions
Q. What is the CSS padding property?
The space inside the box; the background colour extends into it.
Q. How do you write padding?
As padding: 0; Common values include 0, 1rem, 8px 16px.
Q. Is padding inherited?
No. It applies only where you write it, so each element needs its own declaration.
Q. What does the padding shorthand set?
padding-top, padding-right, padding-bottom, padding-left — and anything you leave out resets to its default.