The CSS box model is a method for visualizing the layout of every HTML element, which consists of the content, padding, borders, and margin.

• Content – the body of the HTML element (text, images, form, etc.)
• Padding – a transparent area surrounding the element that gives it space which is most notable when a border is applied
• Border – a colored (can be transparent) line drawn around the content and padding (think of it as the outline you color within in a coloring book)
• Margin – an area outside the element that gives it space from other surrounding elements

The padding and margin are transparent and are just there to give your element room to breath so that it isn’t squashed up against its own border (padding) or other elements (margin).

div {
    width: 500px;
    height: 300px;
    padding: 20px;
    border: #ff0000 solid 2px;
    margin: 50px;
}

Width:

• Total width = width + left padding + right padding + left border + right border + left margin + right margin

500px (width)
+ 40px (left + right padding)
+ 4px (left + right border)
+ 100px (left + right margin)
= 644px

Height:

• Total height = height + top padding + bottom padding + top border + bottom border + top margin + bottom margin

300px (width)
+ 40px (top + bottom padding)
+ 4px (top + bottom border)
+ 100px (top + bottom margin)
= 444px

The box-sizing property can be used to alter how the the width and height are calculated.

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