[css-align] Computed value when using "auto"

Hi,

I've got some questions/doubts regarding several statements in the
specification draft when talking about the "auto" keyword and its
computed value for the align-self/items and justify-self/items properties.

All the properties define a "Computed value" as the "Specified value";
since none of them are inheritable, this value should be either the
default or the one specified by the user.

However, in the case of the "auto" value, the specification describes
for all the properties that it "computes to" a different value, in some
cases depending on other factors like positioning or the type of
rendering (e.g. flex or grid layouts).

The first time I read these paragraphs of the specification I
interpreted them as the "Computed value" when using "auto" should be a
different value than "auto", understanding this as the result of the
"getComputedStyle". However, after further readings, I think is pretty
clear that the spec indicates that it should return the "Specified
value", "auto".

In other specifications, like the CSS Grid Layout", some properties
define a "Computed value" as "As specified, except for auto (see
prose)". I think that the statement about "auto" computing to a
different value is confusing; in the implementation I'm working on I've
assumed that this computed value is defined during the layout phase, but
I'm not sure whether it's what the specification actually describes.

--
Javi

Received on Monday, 23 June 2014 21:55:33 UTC