In addition to prebuilt grid classes for fast layouts, Bootstrap includes Less variables and mixins for quickly generating your own simple, semantic layouts.
Variables determine the number of columns, the gutter width, and the media query point at which to begin floating columns. We use these to generate the predefined grid classes documented above, as well as for the custom mixins listed below.
@grid-columns: 12;
@grid-gutter-width: 30px;
@grid-float-breakpoint: 768px;
Mixins are used in conjunction with the grid variables to generate semantic CSS for individual grid columns.
// Creates a wrapper for a series of columns
.make-row(@gutter: @grid-gutter-width) {
// Then clear the floated columns
.clearfix();
@media (min-width: @screen-sm-min) {
margin-left: (@gutter / -2);
margin-right: (@gutter / -2);
}
// Negative margin nested rows out to align the content of columns
.row {
margin-left: (@gutter / -2);
margin-right: (@gutter / -2);
}
}
// Generate the extra small columns
.make-xs-column(@columns; @gutter: @grid-gutter-width) {
position: relative;
// Prevent columns from collapsing when empty
min-height: 1px;
// Inner gutter via padding
padding-left: (@gutter / 2);
padding-right: (@gutter / 2);
// Calculate width based on number of columns available
@media (min-width: @grid-float-breakpoint) {
float: left;
width: percentage((@columns / @grid-columns));
}
}
// Generate the small columns
.make-sm-column(@columns; @gutter: @grid-gutter-width) {
position: relative;
// Prevent columns from collapsing when empty
min-height: 1px;
// Inner gutter via padding
padding-left: (@gutter / 2);
padding-right: (@gutter / 2);
// Calculate width based on number of columns available
@media (min-width: @screen-sm-min) {
float: left;
width: percentage((@columns / @grid-columns));
}
}
// Generate the small column offsets
.make-sm-column-offset(@columns) {
@media (min-width: @screen-sm-min) {
margin-left: percentage((@columns / @grid-columns));
}
}
.make-sm-column-push(@columns) {
@media (min-width: @screen-sm-min) {
left: percentage((@columns / @grid-columns));
}
}
.make-sm-column-pull(@columns) {
@media (min-width: @screen-sm-min) {
right: percentage((@columns / @grid-columns));
}
}
// Generate the medium columns
.make-md-column(@columns; @gutter: @grid-gutter-width) {
position: relative;
// Prevent columns from collapsing when empty
min-height: 1px;
// Inner gutter via padding
padding-left: (@gutter / 2);
padding-right: (@gutter / 2);
// Calculate width based on number of columns available
@media (min-width: @screen-md-min) {
float: left;
width: percentage((@columns / @grid-columns));
}
}
// Generate the medium column offsets
.make-md-column-offset(@columns) {
@media (min-width: @screen-md-min) {
margin-left: percentage((@columns / @grid-columns));
}
}
.make-md-column-push(@columns) {
@media (min-width: @screen-md-min) {
left: percentage((@columns / @grid-columns));
}
}
.make-md-column-pull(@columns) {
@media (min-width: @screen-md-min) {
right: percentage((@columns / @grid-columns));
}
}
// Generate the large columns
.make-lg-column(@columns; @gutter: @grid-gutter-width) {
position: relative;
// Prevent columns from collapsing when empty
min-height: 1px;
// Inner gutter via padding
padding-left: (@gutter / 2);
padding-right: (@gutter / 2);
// Calculate width based on number of columns available
@media (min-width: @screen-lg-min) {
float: left;
width: percentage((@columns / @grid-columns));
}
}
// Generate the large column offsets
.make-lg-column-offset(@columns) {
@media (min-width: @screen-lg-min) {
margin-left: percentage((@columns / @grid-columns));
}
}
.make-lg-column-push(@columns) {
@media (min-width: @screen-lg-min) {
left: percentage((@columns / @grid-columns));
}
}
.make-lg-column-pull(@columns) {
@media (min-width: @screen-lg-min) {
right: percentage((@columns / @grid-columns));
}
}