How do I make an input element occupy all remaining horizontal space?

Here's the code:

<div style="width:400px">
    some text..
    <input type="text" />
    <button value="click me" />
</div>

How can I make the input element expand to fill all the remaining space, while staying on the same line? If I put 100% it goes to a line of its own...


See: http://jsfiddle.net/thirtydot/rQ3xG/466/

This works in IE7+ and all modern browsers.

.formLine {
    overflow: hidden;
    background: #ccc;
}
.formLine input {
    width: 100%;
}
.formLine label {
    float: left;
}
.formLine span {
    display: block;
    overflow: hidden;
    padding: 0 5px;
}
.formLine button {
    float: right;
}
.formLine input, .formLine button {
    box-sizing: border-box;
}
<div class="formLine">
    <button>click me</button>
    <label>some text.. </label>
    <span><input type="text" /></span>
</div>

The button must go first in the HTML. Slightly distasteful, but c'est la vie.

The key step is using overflow: hidden;: why this is necessary is explained at:

  • http://colinaarts.com/articles/the-magic-of-overflow-hidden/#making-room-for-floats
  • How does the CSS Block Formatting Context work?

The extra span around input is necessary because display:block; has no effect for input: What is it in the CSS/DOM that prevents an input box with display: block from expanding to the size of its container


If you want a cross-browser decision you can use table

<table>
  <tr>
    <td>some text</td>
    <td><input type="text" style="width:100%" /></td>
    <td><button value="click me" /></td>
  </tr>
</table>

If you can't use table it would be more difficult. For instance, if you know exactly the width of the some text you can try this way:

<div style="padding:0px 60px 0px 120px;">
  <div style="width:120px; float:left; margin:0px 0px 0px -120px;">some text</div>
  <input type="button" style="width:50px; float:right; margin:0px -55px 0px 0px;" />
  <input type="text" style="width:100%;" />
</div>