What Are cqw Values - And Why PaneFlow Uses Them

If you've ever designed a responsive layout, you've probably used units like %, vw, em, or rem. But in PaneFlow, you'll notice something different - we rely heavily on a newer, more dynamic unit called cqw.

So what is cqw, and why is it so important to how PaneFlow works?

What is cqw?

cqw stands for Container Query Width - it's a CSS unit that's relative to the width of the element's container, not the viewport.

• 1cqw = 1% of the container's width
• It works similarly to vw (viewport width), but is scoped to a specific parent container

It belongs to the CSS Container Queries spec, a modern approach to responsive design that's supported in all major browsers.

Why We Use cqw in PaneFlow

PaneFlow is a block-based slideshow system where each pane acts like a container. And that's where cqw shines.

Instead of sizing and positioning elements based on the full page or screen, we size everything relative to the pane itself. That means:

• When the pane scales (e.g. embedded in different sizes or devices), all blocks, gaps, images,fonts, and animations scale with it
• Transitions remain fluid and proportional
• There's no need for media queries or manual breakpoints

Real Usage in PaneFlow

In the PaneFlow Studio, you'll see cqw used for:

• Block widths & heights
• Font sizes (e.g. 5cqw for responsive type)
• Gaps between blocks
• Border radius
• Transforms like translateX(10cqw), translateY(-5cqw)

Because everything is defined in cqw, your slideshow behaves like a self-contained, responsive system - no matter where you embed it or how big it appears on screen.

Why Not Just Use vw?

Using vw (viewport width) ties your layout to the entire browser window - which can break layouts inside smaller containers like:

• Webflow sections
• Shopify product pages
• Blog embeds
• Split screens

By using cqw, PaneFlow ensures your presentation always scales within its own boundary, making it modular and portable.

TL;DR

• 1cqw = 1% of a container's width
• Used in PaneFlow to make slideshows scale intelligently and proportionally
• Ensures every element resizes as the pane resizes
• Allows you to build once, scale everywhere - without extra CSS