Grid system is a structure of intersecting vertical and horizontal guidelines used to organize and align content in a design layout. It's like the steel beams in a skyscraper - you can't see them, but they provide the underlying framework that keeps everything from collapsing into a jumbled mess.

How to use it in a sentence

"I just spent 3 hours perfecting the grid system for the new company website - I feel like I'm playing a never-ending game of Tetris trying to get all these elements to fit together seamlessly."

"Oh great, the marketing team wants to 'think outside the box' with the page layout...don't they realize the whole point of using a grid system is to keep things inside the metaphorical box?!"

If you actually want to learn more...

• A Comprehensive Guide to Flexbox: This in-depth CSS-Tricks article dives into the intricacies of Flexbox, the modern web's answer to complex grid layouts without losing your sanity.

• The Subtle Magic Behind Why the Bootstrap Grid Works: Freecodecamp explains the secret sauce that makes Bootstrap's grid system so darn useful (and why it's still relevant despite the rise of CSS Grid).

• The Story of CSS Grid, from Its Creators: A List Apart sits down with the masterminds behind CSS Grid to understand how this game-changing layout system came to be. Spoiler alert: it wasn't just a weekend hobby project.

Note: the Developer Dictionary is in Beta. Please direct feedback to skye@statsig.com.