CSS Website Layout

A website can be divided into various sections comprising of header, menus, content, and footer based on which there are many different layout designs available for developers. Different layouts can be created by using a div tag and using CSS property to style it.
The most common structure of website layout is given below:

Notice: Header section contains a website logo, a search bar and profile of user. The navigation menu contains link to various categories of articles available and content section is divided into 3 parts(columns) with left and right sidebar containing links to other articles and advertisements whereas the main content section is the one containing this article, then at the bottom there is a footer section which contains address, links, contacts etc.
Header Section: The header section is generally placed either at the top of the Website or just below a top navigation menu. It often comprises of the name of the Website or the logo of the Website.

Example:

html

<!-- This code describes the header section
of website layout -->
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
 
<head>
    <title>
        Website Layouts
    </title>
 
    <style>
        .header {
            background-color: green;
            padding: 15px;
            text-align: center;
        }
    </style>
</head>
 
<body>
    <div class="header">
        <h2 style="color:white;">
            GeeksforGeeks
        </h2>
    </div>
    <br>
 
    <center style="font-size:200%;">
        Remaining Section
    </center>
</body>
 
</html>

Output:

Navigation Menu: A Navigation Bar/Menu is basically a list of links that allows visitor to navigate through the website comfortably with easy access.

Example:

html

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
 
<head>
    <title>
        Website Layout
    </title>
 
    <style>
        /* CSS property for header section */
        .header {
            background-color: green;
            padding: 15px;
            text-align: center;
        }
 
        /* CSS property for navigation menu */
        .nav_menu {
            overflow: hidden;
            background-color: #333;
        }
 
        .nav_menu a {
            float: left;
            display: block;
            color: white;
            text-align: center;
            padding: 14px 16px;
            text-decoration: none;
        }
 
        .nav_menu a:hover {
            background-color: white;
            color: green;
        }
    </style>
</head>
 
<body>
 
    <!-- header of website layout -->
    <div class="header">
        <h2 style="color:white;font-size:200%;">
            GeeksforGeeks
        </h2>
    </div>
 
    <!-- navigation menu for website layout -->
    <div class="nav_menu">
        <a href="#">Algo</a>
        <a href="#">DS</a>
        <a href="#">Language</a>
    </div><br>
 
    <center style="font-size:200%;">
        Remaining Section
    </center>
</body>
 
</html>

Output:

Content Section: The content section is the main body of the website. The user can divide the content section in an n-column layout.
The most common layouts are:

1-Column Layout: It is mostly used for mobile layout.

2-Column Layout: This website layout is mostly used for tablets or laptops.

3-Column Layout: This website layout is mostly used for desktops.

The user can also create a responsive layout where the layout will get changed as per screen size. Consider the below example where if the idth of the screen is more than 600px then there will be a 3-column layout and if the width of the screen is between 400px to 600px then there will be a 2-column layout and if the screen size is less than 400px then the 1-column layout will display.

Example:

html

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
 
<head>
    <title>
        Website Layout
    </title>
    <style>
        * {
            box-sizing: border-box;
        }
 
        /* CSS property for header section */
        .header {
            background-color: green;
            padding: 15px;
            text-align: center;
        }
 
        /* CSS property for navigation menu */
        .nav_menu {
            overflow: hidden;
            background-color: #333;
        }
 
        .nav_menu a {
            float: left;
            display: block;
            color: white;
            text-align: center;
            padding: 14px 16px;
            text-decoration: none;
        }
 
        .nav_menu a:hover {
            background-color: white;
            color: green;
        }
 
        /* CSS property for content section */
        .columnA,
        .columnB,
        .columnC {
            float: left;
            width: 31%;
            padding: 15px;
            text-align: justify;
        }
 
        h2 {
            color: green;
            text-align: center;
        }
 
        /* Media query to set website layout
            according to screen size */
        @media screen and (max-width:600px) {
 
            .columnA,
            .columnB,
            .columnC {
                width: 50%;
            }
        }
 
        @media screen and (max-width:400px) {
 
            .columnA,
            .columnB,
            .columnC {
                width: 100%;
            }
        }
    </style>
</head>
 
<body>
 
    <!-- header of website layout -->
    <div class="header">
        <h2 style="color:white;font-size:200%">
            GeeksforGeeks
        </h2>
    </div>
 
    <!-- navigation menu of website layout -->
    <div class="nav_menu">
        <a href="#">Algo</a>
        <a href="#">DS</a>
        <a href="#">Language</a>
    </div>
 
    <!-- Content section of website layout -->
    <div class="row">
 
        <div class="columnA">
            <h2>Column A</h2>
 
            <p>
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                based companies like Microsoft, Amazon, Adobe
                etc with a free online placement preparation
                course. The course focuses on various MCQ's
                & Coding question likely to be asked in the
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            </p>
 
        </div>
 
        <div class="columnB">
            <h2>Column B</h2>
 
            <p>
                  Prepare for the Recruitment drive of product
                based companies like Microsoft, Amazon, Adobe
                etc with a free online placement preparation
                course. The course focuses on various MCQ's
                & Coding question likely to be asked in the
                interviews & make your upcoming placement
                season efficient and successful.
            </p>
 
        </div>
 
        <div class="columnC">
            <h2>Column C</h2>
 
 
 
            <p>
                  Prepare for the Recruitment drive of product
                based companies like Microsoft, Amazon, Adobe
                etc with a free online placement preparation
                course. The course focuses on various MCQ's
                & Coding question likely to be asked in the
                interviews & make your upcoming placement
                season efficient and successful.
            </p>
 
        </div>
    </div>
</body>
 
</html>

Output: The width of the screen size greater than 700px:

The width of screen size greater then 400px and less than 600px:

The width of screen size less than 400px:

Footer Section: A footer section is placed at the bottom of the webpage and it generally consists of information like contact info, copyrights, About us etc.

Example:

html

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
 
<head>
    <title>
        CSS Website Layout
    </title>
 
    <style>
        /* Style for footer section */
        .footer {
            background-color: green;
            padding: 15px;
            text-align: center;
        }
    </style>
</head>
 
<body>
    <center style="font-size:200%;">
        Upper section
    </center>
 
    <!-- footer Section -->
    <div class="footer">
        <a href="#">About</a><br>
        <a href="#">Career</a><br>
        <a href="#">Contact Us</a>
    </div>
</body>
 
</html>