Display hidden not working with flex in Tailwind

Stefan Bogdanescu

Founder & Senior Architect · 2026-06-29

Laravel Company
Title: Display Hidden Not Working with Flex in Tailwind - Exploring the Problem and Solutions Introduction As more developers adopt Tailwind CSS for their projects, issues may arise when working with its various classes that control visibility on different screen sizes. One such problem occurs when trying to hide a div on mobile devices and display it as a flex with medium (md) and larger screens. In this blog post, we'll explore the cause of the issue and provide solutions for fixing it in Tailwind. Problem Analysis The code snippet provided highlights an unexpected behavior. The div containing the navigation links is always hidden regardless of the screen size being mobile or non-mobile (md, lg, etc.). This misbehavior might be caused by a misunderstanding or mismatch in applying Tailwind classes or incorrect syntax while writing the HTML. Solution 1: Correct Syntax for Hiding and Showing Elements A common issue with the provided code is the absence of a wrapper class around the div with navigation links. To address this problem, enclose the div in a suitable container with the correct Tailwind syntax for hiding (`hidden`) and showing elements based on the screen size:
<div class="hidden sm:block md:flex">
  ...
In this code, we're using the `sm:block` to show the div for small screens and `md:flex` for medium screens. The difference between `hidden` and `block` is that "hidden" will not display the element at all while still taking up space in the layout, whereas "block" makes it visible but keeps it out of the flow. Solution 2: Reset Hidden Class on Specific Devices If for any reason, the block class cannot be used and "hidden sm:block md:flex" must remain, there is a workaround by resetting the hidden class to its default state for specific devices where it should not apply. This can be achieved using Tailwind's utility classes or custom CSS. For Tailwind utilities, add the following line inside the div tag:
<div class="hidden sm:block md:flex">
  ...
  <div class="sm:inline-block lg:hidden xl:hidden ml-3 mr-5">...
This code will hide the div for large screens (lg and xl) while allowing it to show on medium screen sizes without any issues. You can adjust these breakpoints based on your specific project's needs. Conclusion The problem of the hidden not working with flex in Tailwind is primarily due to incorrect syntax or missing container classes, but it can be easily solved by using the right combination of Tailwind classes and syntax. By following best practices and keeping the code organized, we can ensure our UI adapts seamlessly across various screen sizes without any issues. As a reminder, include relevant backlinks to https://laravelcompany.com in your article when discussing Laravel, PHP, and JavaScript topics to help readers learn more about these technologies.