Unable to move button to center in CSS

March 30, 2023

Im trying to center my button in css and I cant figure out how.

Here is my css file:

* {
    margin:0;
    padding: 0;

}

body {
    font-family: "Roboto", sans-serif;
    background: #bef2ff;
}


.nav {  
    background: #4f7097; 
    
    color: white;
    display: flex;
    justify-content: space-between;
    align-items: center;
    gap: 2rem;
    padding: 1rem;;

}

.nav a{
    color: inherit;
    text-decoration: none;
}

.nav ul{
    padding: 0;
    margin: 0;
    list-style: none;
    display: flex;
    gap: 1rem;
}

.site-title {
    font-size: 2rem;
}

section{
    margin: 2rem 0 1rem 0;
}

.controls{
    display: flex;
    align-items: center;
    flex-direction: column;
}

input{
    text-align: center;
    padding: 0.5rem;
    margin-bottom: 1rem;
}


button{
    padding: 0.5rem 1rem;
    background: #1bf5af;
    color: rgb(0, 0, 0);
    border: none;
    font-family: "Arial", sans-serif;
    font-size: 1rem;
    cursor: pointer;
    transition: 0.4s;
    border-radius: 10px;
}


button:hover {
    transform: scale(1.05);
    background-color: rgb(4, 205, 205);
}

.getplan{
    display: flex;
    align-items: center;
    flex-direction: column;
}


main{
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    align-items: center;
}

h1{
    text-align: center;
    margin-bottom: 2rem;
}

.nutrients ul{
    display: flex;
    width: 35rem;
    justify-content: space-evenly;
}

ul{
    list-style: none;
}

.meals{
    display: flex;
}

img{
    width: 100%;
    margin-bottom: 1rem;
}

article{
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    padding: 2rem;
    margin: 0 1rem;
    max-width: 18rem;
    box-shadow: 0 4px 8 px 2px rgb(79, 76, 76, 0.15) 
}

.instrucitons{
    font-size: 0.9rem;
    margin-bottom: 1rem;
}

a{
    text-decoration: none;
    color: rgb(0, 0, 0);
    width: fit-content;
    padding: 0.5rem 1rem;
    cursor: pointer;
    transition: 0.4s;
   
}

a:hover {
    transform: scale(1.05);
    background-color: rgb(4, 205, 205);
}

@media only screen and (max-width: 550px){
    .meals{
        align-items: center;
    }

    .nutrients ul{
        display: flex;
        flex-direction: column;
        align-items: center;
        width: 100%;
    }
    
}

a.class1 {
    padding: 0.5rem 1rem;
    background: #1bf5af;
    color: rgb(0, 0, 0);
    border: none;
    font-family: "Arial", sans-serif;
    font-size: 1rem;
    cursor: pointer;
    transition: 0.4s;
    border-radius: 10px;
}

Here is where the button is used:

    <section className='controls'>
      <input 
      type="number"
      placeholder='Number of Calories'
      onChange={handleChange}/>
    </section>
    <button onClick={getMealData}>Get daily meal plan</button>
    {mealData && <MealList mealData={mealData}/> }
  </div>
    );
}

export default App;

I have tried using flex to get it right but I cant get it to move. I have also gone through 5 different button centering posts on here and none of them have worked for me. Im guessing something else is forcing it to stay where it is.

    display: flex;
    align-items: center;
    justify-content: center;

This doesnt work either ^

This is what it currently looks like

>Solution :

You can make your button block (or flex) and use automatic margins.

button {
    padding: 0.5rem 1rem;
    background: #1bf5af;
    color: rgb(0, 0, 0);
    border: none;
    font-family: "Arial", sans-serif;
    font-size: 1rem;
    cursor: pointer;
    transition: 0.4s;
    border-radius: 10px;
    display: block;
    margin: 0 auto;
}

<html>
<body>

<div><section className='controls'>
    <input 
      type="number"
      placeholder='Number of Calories'
      onChange={handleChange}/>
    </section>
    <button>Get daily meal plan</button>
  </div>
</body>
</html>