Do inline-block elements widths get set by their content?

Hi i just started trying to teach myself HTML/CSS a few days ago. I really dont like asking for answers id rather figure it out myself. But now i need some help so i can find peace and FINALLY move on. Im trying to make a horizontal menu with one drop down button and links in it. .container {border:1px solid black; text-align:left; border-radius:10px; overflow:hidden;} .container a {padding:15px; display:inline-block; font-size:30px; text-decoration:none; background-color:grey; color:white;} .aboutcontainer {display:inline-block;} .about {position:absolute; display:none; width:100%;} .about a {display:block; text-align:left; font-size:20px; padding:15px 5px;} .aboutcontainer:hover .about {display:block;} .container a:hover, .aboutcontainer:hover .button {background-color:red;} .about a:hover {background-color:lightgrey;} <div class="container"> <a href="#">Home</a ><a href="#">Media</a ><a href="#">Store</a ><div class="aboutcontainer"> <a class="button" href="#">About</a> <div class="about"> <a href="#">About2</a> <a href="#">About3</a> </div> </div> </div> I cant figure out how to make the dropdown menu automatically the same width as the drop down button. I figured that perhaps the drop down menu (.about) which has a width:100% would stretch as far as the div its contained in (.aboutcontainer) which is displayed as inline-block whose width would be determined by the "About" text-link inside of it. But the drop down menu, when displayed, goes the full length of the screen. So it seems to be the case that actual content inside an inline:block element will not define the width of that element. And although the border of an inline:block element wraps around its content automatically, its just an illusion and its actual width is really the full length of the screen, if no fixed widths have been defined in any of the parent divs (hope im using the right terminology). So is there a way to do this without any fixed widths assigned? If not then thats ok. Ill finally have my answer and know what im trying to do is impossible and stop wasting time on it.