How can I Center Inline-Block Elements with Unknown Width?

Centering Inline-Block Elements: Exploring a Novel Approach

Contrary to the conventional understanding, centering inline-block elements is indeed feasible. However, this seemingly straightforward task can prove challenging, especially when dealing with elements of unknown width, such as user-supplied MathJax equations.

One common misconception is that using margin-left and margin-right: auto will suffice. However, this technique is ineffective for inline-block elements. Another misguided attempt involves setting the display property to block and specifying a fixed width. While this approach may achieve centering, it fails to accommodate the dynamic nature of the equation's content and undermines the desired highlighting effect.

The solution lies in a seemingly simple yet overlooked CSS property: text-align. By applying text-align: center; to the container element, the equation will be automatically centered horizontally. This elegant approach works seamlessly regardless of the equation's width, enabling responsive centering and maintaining the desired highlighting functionality.

To illustrate this solution, consider the following code:

.equationContainer
{
    text-align: center;
}

.equationElement
{
    display: inline-block;
}

Here, the .equationContainer element serves as the parent container, and the .equationElement element holds the MathJax equation. By setting text-align: center; on the container, the equation will be effortlessly centered within its parent.

In conclusion, centering inline-block elements with unknown width can be achieved by harnessing the power of text-align: center;. This technique elegantly solves the limitations of traditional methods, providing a robust and dynamic solution for centering content of indeterminate width.

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