difference between css height : 100% vs height : auto

height: 100% gives the element 100% height of its parent container.

height: auto means the element height will depend upon the height of its children.

Consider these examples:

height: 100%

<div style="height: 50px">
    <div id="innerDiv" style="height: 100%">
    </div>
</div>

#innerDiv is going to have height: 50px

height: auto

<div style="height: 50px">
    <div id="innerDiv" style="height: auto">
          <div id="evenInner" style="height: 10px">
          </div>
    </div>
</div>

#innerDiv is going to have height: 10px