CodeGym /Courses /Frontend SELF EN /Creating Complex Layouts

Creating Complex Layouts

Frontend SELF EN
Level 22 , Lesson 4
Available

10.1 Two-Column Layout

Creating complex layouts on web pages requires a deep understanding of various positioning methods and their combinations. In this lecture, we'll look at some practical examples of creating complex layouts using different CSS techniques, like Flexbox, Grid, and traditional positioning.

Blog Layout with Fixed Navigation

This layout includes a header, fixed navigation bar, main content, and a sidebar.

Example:

CSS
    
      body {
        margin: 0;
        font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
      }

      .header {
        background-color: #333;
        color: white;
        padding: 20px;
        text-align: center;
      }

      .navbar {
        position: fixed;
        top: 0;
        width: 100%;
        background-color: #444;
        color: white;
        padding: 10px;
        box-sizing: border-box;
        z-index: 1000;
      }

      .container {
        display: flex;
        margin-top: 60px; /* Height of the fixed navigation */
      }

      .main-content {
        flex: 3;
        padding: 20px;
      }

      .sidebar {
        flex: 1;
        padding: 20px;
        background-color: #f4f4f4;
      }

      .footer {
        background-color: #333;
        color: white;
        padding: 20px;
        text-align: center;
        position: relative;
        margin-top: auto;
      }
    
  
HTML
    
      <div class="header">My Blog</div>
      <div class="navbar">Navigation</div>
      <div class="container">
        <div class="main-content">
          <h1>Main Content</h1>
          <p>Here is the main content of the blog.</p>
        </div>

        <div class="sidebar">
          <h2>Sidebar</h2>
          <p>Links and other content.</p>
        </div>
      </div>
      <div class="footer">Footer</div>
    
  

In this example, the fixed navigation bar stays put when scrolling the page thanks to position: fixed. The main content and sidebar are placed in two columns using Flexbox.

10.2 Single Page Website

Single Page Website with Sticky Header and Footer

This layout includes a header, main content, and a footer. The header and footer remain visible when scrolling the page.

Example:

CSS
    
      body {
        display: flex;
        flex-direction: column;
        min-height: 100vh;
        margin: 0;
        font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
      }

      .header {
        background-color: #333;
        color: white;
        padding: 20px;
        text-align: center;
        position: sticky;
        top: 0;
        z-index: 1000;
      }

      .main {
        flex: 1;
        padding: 20px;
        background-color: #f4f4f4;
      }

      .footer {
        background-color: #333;
        color: white;
        padding: 20px;
        text-align: center;
        position: sticky;
        bottom: 0;
        z-index: 1000;
      }
    
  
HTML
    
      <div class="header">Sticky Header</div>
      <div class="main">
        <h1>Main Content</h1>
        <p>Here is the main content of the page. Scroll to see the sticky header and footer in action.</p>
        <p>Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque luctus lectus eu tortor vehicula, et convallis lacus varius. Integer at orci in nisl faucibus placerat.</p>
      </div>
      <div class="footer">Sticky Footer</div>
    
  

In this example, the header and footer remain visible when scrolling the page thanks to position: sticky.

10.3 Multi-Level Navigation Bar

This layout includes a multi-level navigation bar that uses nested lists and pseudo-classes to create dropdown menus.

Example:

CSS
    
      body {
        margin: 0;
        font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
      }

      .navbar {
        background-color: #333;
        overflow: hidden;
      }

      .navbar ul {
        list-style-type: none;
        padding: 0;
        margin: 0;
        position: relative;
      }

      .navbar li {
        float: left;
      }

      .navbar li a {
        display: block;
        color: white;
        text-align: center;
        padding: 14px 16px;
        text-decoration: none;
      }

      .navbar li a:hover {
        background-color: #111;
      }

      .navbar li ul {
        display: none;
        position: absolute;
        background-color: #333;
      }

      .navbar li:hover ul {
        display: block;
      }

      .navbar li ul li {
        float: none;
      }

      .navbar li ul li a {
        padding: 14px 16px;
      }
    
  
HTML
    
      <div class="navbar">
        <ul>
          <li><a href="#">Home</a></li>
          <li><a href="#">Services</a>
            <ul>
              <li><a href="#">Web Design</a></li>
              <li><a href="#">SEO</a></li>
              <li><a href="#">Marketing</a></li>
            </ul>
          </li>
          <li><a href="#">About</a></li>
          <li><a href="#">Contact</a></li>
        </ul>
      </div>
    
  
1
Task
Frontend SELF EN, level 22, lesson 4
Locked
Two-Column Layout
Two-Column Layout
1
Task
Frontend SELF EN, level 22, lesson 4
Locked
Single Page Website
Single Page Website
1
Survey/quiz
Document Flow, level 22, lesson 4
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Document Flow
Document Flow
Comments (1)
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Mirko Mirxas Level 2
17 January 2026
Throwing out a lot of garbage code to the page without any proper explanation shouldn't be called a lecture :D