Bootstrap 4 is a major upgrade over Bootstrap 3, rebuilt with new technologies and better design systems.
✅ 1. New Flexbox-Based Grid System (Major Change)
Bootstrap 4 uses Flexbox, while Bootstrap 3 uses float-based layout.
Bootstrap 3:
.col-md-4 { float: left; }
Bootstrap 4.5:
display: flex;
✔ Better alignment
✔ Easier vertical centering
✔ Equal height columns by default
✅ 2. Rewritten in Sass Instead of Less
Bootstrap 3 → Less
Bootstrap 4 → Sass (.scss)
✔ Sass is more powerful
✔ Better mixins, variables, nesting
✔ Faster development
✅ 3. Improved Grid Breakpoints
Bootstrap 4 added a new extra-large breakpoint and renamed sizes.
| Bootstrap 3 | Bootstrap 4.5 |
|---|---|
| xs, sm, md, lg | xs, sm, md, lg, xl |
| No spacing utilities | Tons of spacing utilities |
✅ 4. Cards Replaced Panels, Wells, Thumbnails
Bootstrap 3 had:
.panel.thumbnail.well
Bootstrap 4 replaced all of them with one unified component:
🎉 Cards
<div class="card">
<div class="card-body">Content</div>
</div>
✅ 5. Utility Classes Improved
Bootstrap 4 introduced hundreds of helper classes, like:
m-0, mt-3, p-4, text-center, d-flex, justify-content-between
Bootstrap 3 had very limited utilities.
✅ 6. Buttons & Forms Redesigned
Bootstrap 4:
- Rounded buttons
- Better input groups
- Custom selects, checkboxes, radios
- Better spacing & alignment
.form-groupimproved
Bootstrap 3 forms felt outdated.
✅ 7. Typography Changes
Bootstrap 3:
- px-based fonts
Bootstrap 4:
- rem-based fonts
- Better responsive text
- New display headings:
.display-1to.display-4
✅ 8. Improved JavaScript Components
Bootstrap 4 uses:
- ES6
- Tether/Popper.js for tooltips & popovers
- More stable modals
✅ 9. New Reboot.css (Improved Normalize.css)
A modern CSS reset for consistent styling across browsers.
🚫 10. Removed Features (Breaking Changes)
Bootstrap 4 removed:
- Glyphicons
- Panels, Wells, Thumbnails
- Affix plugin
.input-group-addon- Many old classes
🎯 In Short:
Bootstrap 3
- Float-based grid
- Less
- Older UI components (panels, wells, thumbnails)
- Limited utilities
- Outdated forms and typography
Bootstrap 4.5
- Flexbox-based layout
- Sass
- Cards component
- More breakpoints
- Tons of utility classes
- Custom form controls
- Reboot.css reset
- Modern and responsive