Update: In 2014, you should use a clearfix technique that utilized pseudo-elements, like the one mentioned by @RodrigoManguinho. This is the modern way of clearing floats. For an even more up to date method, see Nicholas Gallagher’s micro clearfix:
/**
* For modern browsers
* 1. The space content is one way to avoid an Opera bug when the
* contenteditable attribute is included anywhere else in the document.
* Otherwise it causes space to appear at the top and bottom of elements
* that are clearfixed.
* 2. The use of `table` rather than `block` is only necessary if using
* `:before` to contain the top-margins of child elements.
*/
.cf:before,
.cf:after {
content: " "; /* 1 */
display: table; /* 2 */
}
.cf:after {
clear: both;
}
/**
* For IE 6/7 only
* Include this rule to trigger hasLayout and contain floats.
*/
.cf {
*zoom: 1;
}
Original Answer:
I really don’t like using extra non-semantic markup, so I stay away from using a clearing element. Instead of just apply overflow: hidden;
to the parent of the float(s) to clear them. Works cross browser, no problem. I believe overflow: auto;
also works.
Obviously, it won’t work if you want to use a different overflow property, but because of the IE6 expanding box bug, I rarely have a reason to purposely overflow my containers.
See more info on using overflow
instead of clear
to avoid adding extra markup.