How can I bottom align multiple inline-block divs in one container without losing their flow?

Question

This is for a very simple bar graph I'm working on,

<div id="container">
  <div style="display:inline-block;">
  </div>
  <div style="display:inline-block;">
  </div>
  <div style="display:inline-block;">
  </div>
</div>

If I set the container to relative and the inner divs to absolute & bottom:0, then they all overlap. They flow nicely without the absolute positioning but then the bar graph is upside down.

Note: My intention was to retain the inline flow of the bars and not have to explicitly specify the horizontal positions.

Here is a better example of the problem.

http://jsfiddle.net/benstenson/NvvV6/1/

1) correct orientation but vertical alignment is top
<div id="no-content" class="container">
    <div class="a"></div>
    <div class="b"></div>
    <div class="c"></div>
</div>

2) wrong orientation, vertical alignment top
<div id="has-content" class="container">
    <div class="a">a</div>
    <div class="b">b</div>
    <div class="c">c</div>
</div>

3) mixed orientation, alignment is crazy
<div id="mixed" class="container">
    <div class="a">a</div>
    <div class="b">b</div>
    <div class="c"></div>
</div>

4) correct orientation and correct alignment but<br/>
flow has been lost and horizontal position must be explicit
<div id="absolute" class="container">
    <div class="a">a</div>
    <div class="b">b</div>
    <div class="c"></div>
</div>

5) here we go!
<table class="container">
    <tr>
        <td><div class="a">a</div></td>
        <td><div class="b">b</div></td>
        <td><div class="c"></div></td>
    </tr>
</table>​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

css

body {padding:1em;font-family:sans-serif;font-size:small;}
.container {
    height:2.5em;width:50%;margin-bottom:1em;
    background-color:lightgray;
    font-size:larger;
    font-weight:bold;
    text-transform:Uppercase;
}
div.container > div {
    width:32%;
    display:inline-block;
    background-color:black;
    color:cyan;
}

#absolute { position:relative;}
#absolute > div {position:absolute;bottom:0px;opacity:.3;}

.a {height:50%;}
.b {height:60%}
.c {height:80%;}

td{width:33.333%;vertical-align:bottom;}
td > div{​background-color:black;​color:cyan;}​

So is there a better way to do this, like with the webkit flexbox or something?

Answer 1

this is working on my browser (Chrome 19)

html

<div id="container">
    <div id="a">a</div>
    <div id="b">b</div>
    <div id="c">c</div>
</div>

css

#container {
    height:10em;
    width:90%;
    border:1px solid black;

    display:-moz-box; /* Firefox */
    display:-webkit-box; /* Safari and Chrome */
    display:box;

    -webkit-box-align:end;
}

#container > div {
    width:34%;
    border:1px solid red;

    -moz-box-flex:1.0; /* Firefox */
    -webkit-box-flex:1.0; /* Safari and Chrome */
    box-flex:1.0;
}

#a {height:20%}
#b {height:50%}
#b {height:70%}

http://jsfiddle.net/benstenson/m6vR7/

Answer 2

Works for me when absolutely positioned:

<style type='text/css'>
#container{
 position  :relative;
 border    :1px solid #000;
 height    :60px;
 width     :100px;
}
 .b{
   position:absolute;
   width   :20px;
   bottom  :0
  }
 .b1{background:blue  ;height:10px; left:0px}
 .b2{background:red   ;height:30px; left:30px;}
 .b3{background:yellow;height:50px; left:60px}
</style>

<div id="container">
  <div class='b b1'></div>
  <div class='b b2'></div>
  <div class='b b3'></div>
</div>​​​​​​​​​​​​

Fiddle here.