What is the purpose of inline-flex in CSS?

In CSS, inline-flex is a value used to set the display property of an element. It makes the element a flexible, inline element with the characteristics of a flexbox model.

More specifically, inline-flex is used to make an element behave as a inline flex container, allowing its child elements to be laid out according to flexbox rules. This means that child elements can adjust their size and position automatically as needed, and flexbox properties can be used to control their behavior.

One benefit of using inline-flex is the ability to achieve a flexible layout without using block-level elements, while also keeping the elements displayed in a single line. This is particularly useful when inserting flexible elements into text, such as menus, buttons, toolbars, etc.

In short, the purpose of inline-flex is to set elements as inline flex containers, giving them the properties of flexible layout.