How can you center an element horizontally in CSS?

To center an element horizontally in CSS, you typically use the 'margin' property with a value of 'auto' on the element you want to center. This approach works for block-level elements by evenly distributing the remaining space on either side of the element. Using 'text-align: center' on the parent element only centers inline-level content inside it, not block-level elements. Padding and floating do not directly center elements horizontally; they serve different purposes in CSS layout. Understanding how to center elements is fundamental for creating visually appealing and well-structured web layouts.