What is the difference among col-lg-*, col-md-* and col-sm-* in Bootstrap?

Question

What is the difference among col-lg-* , col-md-* and col-sm-* in Twitter Bootstrap?

Answer 1

One particular case : Before learning bootstrap grid system, make sure browser zoom is set to 100% (a hundred percent). For example : If screen resolution is (1600px x 900px) and browser zoom is 175%, then "bootstrap-ped" elements will be stacked.

HTML

<div class="container-fluid">
    <div class="row">
        <div class="col-lg-4">class="col-lg-4"</div>
        <div class="col-lg-4">class="col-lg-4"</div>
    </div>
</div>

Chrome zoom 100%

Browser 100 percent - elements placed horizontally

Chrome zoom 175%

Browser 175 percent - stacked elements

Answer 2

well it's used to tell bootstrap how many columns are to be placed in a row depending on the screen size-

col-xs-2

would show only 2 columns in a row in extra small(xs) screen, in the same way as sm defines a small screen, md(medium sized), lg(large sized), but according to bootstrap smaller first rule, if you mention

xs-col-2 md-col-4

then 2 columns would be shown in every row for screen sizes from xs upto sm(included) and changes when it gets next size i.e. for md up to lg(included) for a better understanding of screen sizes try running them in various screen modes in chrome's developer mode(ctr+shift+i) and try various pixels or devices

Answer 3

I think this image is pretty good to understand the concept better!

for more detail understanding please go though below link:

https://getbootstrap.com/docs/3.4/css/

Answer 4

The bootstrap docs do explain it, but it still took me a while to get it. It makes more sense when I explain it to myself in one of two ways:

If you think of the columns starting out horizontally, then you can choose when you want them to stack.

For example, if you start with columns: A B C

You decide when should they stack to be like this:

A

B

C

If you choose col-lg, then the columns will stack when the width is < 1200px.

If you choose col-md, then the columns will stack when the width is < 992px.

If you choose col-sm, then the columns will stack when the width is < 768px.

If you choose col-xs, then the columns will never stack.

On the other hand, if you think of the columns starting out stacked, then you can choose at what point they become horizontal:

If you choose col-sm, then the columns will become horizontal when the width is >= 768px.

If you choose col-md, then the columns will become horizontal when the width is >= 992px.

If you choose col-lg, then the columns will become horizontal when the width is >= 1200px.

Answer 5

Device Sizes and class prefix:

• Extra small devices Phones (<768px) - .col-xs-
• Small devices Tablets (≥768px) - .col-sm-
• Medium devices Desktops (≥992px) - .col-md-
• Large devices Desktops (≥1200px) - .col-lg-

Grid options:

Reference: Grid System