If you use flex and flex-col on a parent container, child elements will occupy the full width. This happens because the default value for align-items is stretch.
Why Do Child Elements Stretch?
When align-items is set to stretch, child elements fill the width of the parent container.
Example:
<input className=“border py-1 px-2” />
<button className=“border px-4 py-1 bg-slate-200”>Submit</button>
</form>
In this example, the input, and button elements stretch to fill the width of the <form>.
Solutions
To prevent stretching, use either self-start on child elements or items-start on the parent element.
Option 1: Using self-start on Child Elements
The self-start class makes a child element align to the start of the cross axis:
<input className=“border py-1 px-2 self-start” />
<button className=“border px-4 py-1 bg-slate-200 self-start”>
Submit
</button>
</form>
Option 2: Using items-start on the Parent Element
The items-start class aligns all child elements to the start of the cross axis:
<input className=“border py-1 px-2” />
<button className=“border px-4 py-1 bg-slate-200”>
Submit
</button>
</form>
Wraping Up
Using self-start on child elements or items-start on the parent container prevents flexbox items from stretching to fill the entire width.
