> A floating block in writing and publishing is any graphic, text, table, or other representation that is unaligned from the main flow of text. Use of floating blocks to present pictures and tables is a typical feature of academic writing and technical writing, including scientific articles and books. Floating blocks are normally labeled with a caption or title that describes its contents and a number that is used to refer to the figure from the main text.
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> Floating blocks are said to be floating because they are not fixed in position on the page at the place, but rather drift to the side of the page. By placing pictures or other large items on the sides of pages rather than embedding them in the middle of the main flow of text, typesetting is more flexible and interruption to the flow of the narrative is avoided.
I don't understand. The first and simplest use of CSS float that I learned is to embed an image into the text flow, with the text wrapping around it, http://allwebco-templates.com/support/S_textwrap.htm
I always thought that was its original purpose. And it is its effect in its purest form --- when you set the float property and nothing else. (Using it to lay out a page in columns, as the article mentions, usually takes juggling other properties, like margin, width, etc.)
CSS is probably the language that I’ve been using for a long time without exactly knowing how these things like float exactly work. Instead, I’ve often used a copy and paste or test and browse approach to get layouts I wanted.
Or metaphorically I don't know exactly how English works when it decomposes so gracefully as it is capable of doing.
Is there any kind of equivalence in programming languages like this? I mean theoretically is it possible to design or possibly write code such that it is capable of imprecision and yet compiling to equivalent instructions?
(I realize I may simply lack the formal language to describe what I mean, but if by virtue of any fortuitous inherent redundancy in my question, a passing expert may recognise their field and be willing to guide me, I shall be most grateful.)
Isn't it? If you float an image it does go to a top layer and blocks other non-float layer below it.
I'm thinking of float with block elements, which works in the way OP originally thought.
It only occurred to me recently that float actually meant float from a 2d point of view. As in a side view of an aquarium, you attach float to an object, and it goes to the top of the tank, displacing water along the way. You can float it left, and right, etc... goes to the left and right of the top of the aquarium. Things line up at the top if you float multiples, etc.
I don't know if that is an appropriate analogy or not, but it seems to fit for me.