---
id: height-and-width
title: Height and Width
layout: docs
category: The Basics
permalink: docs/height-and-width.html
next: flexbox
previous: style
---

A component's height and width determine its size on the screen.

#### Fixed Dimensions

The simplest way to set the dimensions of a component is by adding a fixed `width` and `height` to style. All dimensions in React Native are unitless, and represent density-independent pixels.

```ReactNativeWebPlayer
import React, { Component } from 'react';
import { AppRegistry, View } from 'react-native';

export default class FixedDimensionsBasics extends Component {
  render() {
    return (
      <View>
        <View style={{width: 50, height: 50, backgroundColor: 'powderblue'}} />
        <View style={{width: 100, height: 100, backgroundColor: 'skyblue'}} />
        <View style={{width: 150, height: 150, backgroundColor: 'steelblue'}} />
      </View>
    );
  }
}

// skip this line if using Create React Native App
AppRegistry.registerComponent('AwesomeProject', () => FixedDimensionsBasics);
```

Setting dimensions this way is common for components that should always render at exactly the same size, regardless of screen dimensions.

#### Flex Dimensions

Use `flex` in a component's style to have the component expand and shrink dynamically based on available space. Normally you will use `flex: 1`, which tells a component to fill all available space, shared evenly amongst each other component with the same parent. The larger the `flex` given, the higher the ratio of space a component will take compared to its siblings.

> A component can only expand to fill available space if its parent has dimensions greater than 0. If a parent does not have either a fixed `width` and `height` or `flex`, the parent will have dimensions of 0 and the `flex` children will not be visible.

```ReactNativeWebPlayer
import React, { Component } from 'react';
import { AppRegistry, View } from 'react-native';

export default class FlexDimensionsBasics extends Component {
  render() {
    return (
      // Try removing the `flex: 1` on the parent View.
      // The parent will not have dimensions, so the children can't expand.
      // What if you add `height: 300` instead of `flex: 1`?
      <View style={{flex: 1}}>
        <View style={{flex: 1, backgroundColor: 'powderblue'}} />
        <View style={{flex: 2, backgroundColor: 'skyblue'}} />
        <View style={{flex: 3, backgroundColor: 'steelblue'}} />
      </View>
    );
  }
}

// skip this line if using Create React Native App
AppRegistry.registerComponent('AwesomeProject', () => FlexDimensionsBasics);
```

After you can control a component's size, the next step is to [learn how to lay it out on the screen](docs/flexbox.html).