content/snippets/css/s/constant-width-to-height-ratio.md
---
title: Constant width to height ratio
type: snippet
language: css
tags: [layout]
cover: clutter
dateModified: 2020-12-30
---
Ensures that an element with variable `width` will retain a proportionate `height` value.
- Apply `padding-top` on the `::before` pseudo-element, making the `height` of the element equal to a percentage of its `width`.
- The proportion of `height` to `width` can be altered as necessary. For example a `padding-top` of `100%` will create a responsive square (1:1 ratio).
```html
<div class="constant-width-to-height-ratio"></div>
```
```css
.constant-width-to-height-ratio {
background: #9C27B0;
width: 50%;
}
.constant-width-to-height-ratio::before {
content: '';
padding-top: 100%;
float: left;
}
.constant-width-to-height-ratio::after {
content: '';
display: block;
clear: both;
}
```