Expanding flex items to full width

Question

I'm attempting to create a custom 'iTunes' style expanding layout. However, I am hitting a few issues. I had originally anticipated using flex-box for this. But I can't quite seem to do what I am looking to do.

I've attached an image of what I am trying to create. Essentially a grid of clickable thumbnails with expanding content which is full width. And the full width aspect is what I am struggling with. Am I going to have to set an explicit width on the expanding content or will it be possible for the content to flex to full width?

What I'm trying to create:

I've attached a very basic codepen that demonstrates the issue I am having. If the first image was 'expanded' I would want it full width.

.album-container {
  display: flex;
  flex-direction: row;
}

.album {
  width: 50%;
}

img {
  width: 100%;
}

.expanded-content {
  background: #212121;
  color: #FFFFFF;
}

<div class="album-container">
  <album class='album'>
    <img alt="album-artwork" src="https://img.discogs.com/grVTPVqiRonKp5ly_ey-moBmO0c=/fit-in/600x600/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-11826116-1524151283-4015.jpeg.jpg">
    <div class="expanded-content">
      <div>Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not</div>
      <div>Arctic Monkeys</div>
    </div>
  </album>
    <album class='album'>
    <img alt="album-artwork" src="https://img.discogs.com/grVTPVqiRonKp5ly_ey-moBmO0c=/fit-in/600x600/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-11826116-1524151283-4015.jpeg.jpg">
  </album>
</div>

https://codepen.io/jakefauvel/pen/QoKdJP

Answer 1

If you want to keep exactly this HTML structure, and have only one popover at a time, This approach could help you(see snippet)

But I think it would be better and cleaner to restructure HTML code, for example, move your .expanded-content out from .album-container and change it's content with JavaScript if possible.

.album-container {
  display: flex;
  flex-direction: row;
  position: relative;
}

.album {
  width: 50%;
}

img {
  width: 100%;
}

.expanded-content {
  background: #212121;
  color: #FFFFFF;
  
  position: absolute;
  left: 0;
  width: 100%;
}

<div class="album-container">
  <album class='album'>
    <img alt="album-artwork" src="https://img.discogs.com/grVTPVqiRonKp5ly_ey-moBmO0c=/fit-in/600x600/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-11826116-1524151283-4015.jpeg.jpg">
    
  </album>
    <album class='album'>
    <img alt="album-artwork" src="https://img.discogs.com/grVTPVqiRonKp5ly_ey-moBmO0c=/fit-in/600x600/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-11826116-1524151283-4015.jpeg.jpg">
<div class="expanded-content">
      <div>Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not</div>
      <div>Arctic Monkeys</div>
    </div>
  </album>
</div>