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CSS3 Multiple Columns

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CSS3 Multi-column Layout

The CSS3 multi-column layout allows easy definition of multiple columns of text - just like in newspapers:

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Browser Support

The numbers in the table specify the first browser version that fully supports the property.

Numbers followed by -webkit- or -moz- specify the first version that worked with a prefix.

Property
column-count 50.0
4.0 -webkit-		 10.0 2.0 -moz- 9.0
3.1 -webkit-		 37.0
15.0 -webkit-
11.1
column-gap 50.0
4.0 -webkit-		 10.0 2.0 -moz- 9.0
3.1 -webkit-		 37.0
15.0 -webkit-
11.1
column-rule 50.0
4.0 -webkit-		 10.0 2.0 -moz- 9.0
3.1 -webkit-		 37.0
15.0 -webkit-
11.1
column-rule-color 50.0
4.0 -webkit-		 10.0 2.0 -moz- 9.0
3.1 -webkit-		 37.0
15.0 -webkit
11.1
column-rule-style 50.0
4.0 -webkit-		 10.0 2.0 -moz- 9.0
3.1 -webkit-		 37.0
15.0 -webkit
11.1
column-rule-width 50.0
4.0 -webkit-		 10.0 2.0 -moz- 9.0
3.1 -webkit-		 37.0
15.0 -webkit
11.1
column-width 50.0
4.0 -webkit-		 10.0 2.0 -moz- 9.0
3.1 -webkit-		 37.0
15.0 -webkit
11.1

CSS3 Multi-column Properties

In this chapter you will learn about the following multi-column properties:

  • column-count
  • column-gap
  • column-rule-style
  • column-rule-width
  • column-rule-color
  • column-rule
  • column-span
  • column-width

CSS3 Create Multiple Columns

The column-count property specifies the number of columns an element should be divided into.

The following example will divide the text in the <div> element into 3 columns: 

Example

div {
    -webkit-column-count: 3; /* Chrome, Safari, Opera */
    -moz-column-count: 3; /* Firefox */
    column-count: 3;
}
Try it Yourself »

CSS3 Specify the Gap Between Columns

The column-gap property specifies the gap between the columns.

The following example specifies a 40 pixels gap between the columns:

Example

div {
    -webkit-column-gap: 40px; /* Chrome, Safari, Opera */
    -moz-column-gap: 40px; /* Firefox */
    column-gap: 40px;
}
Try it Yourself »

CSS3 Column Rules

The column-rule-style property specifies the style of the rule between columns:

Example

div {
    -webkit-column-rule-style: solid; /* Chrome, Safari, Opera */
    -moz-column-rule-style: solid; /* Firefox */
    column-rule-style: solid;
}
Try it Yourself »

The column-rule-width property specifies the width of the rule between columns:

Example

div {
    -webkit-column-rule-width: 1px; /* Chrome, Safari, Opera */
    -moz-column-rule-width: 1px; /* Firefox */
    column-rule-width: 1px;
}
Try it Yourself »

The column-rule-color property specifies the color of the rule between columns:

Example

div {
    -webkit-column-rule-color: lightblue; /* Chrome, Safari, Opera */
    -moz-column-rule-color: lightblue; /* Firefox */
    column-rule-color: lightblue;
}
Try it Yourself »

The column-rule property is a shorthand property for setting all the column-rule-* properties above.

The following example sets the width, style, and color of the rule between columns:

Example

div {
    -webkit-column-rule: 1px solid lightblue; /* Chrome, Safari, Opera */
    -moz-column-rule: 1px solid lightblue; /* Firefox */
    column-rule: 1px solid lightblue;
}
Try it Yourself »

Specify How Many Columns an Element Should Span

The column-span property specifies how many columns an element should span across.

The following example specifies that the <h2> element should span across all columns:

Example

h2 {
    -webkit-column-span: all; /* Chrome, Safari, Opera */
    column-span: all;
}
Try it Yourself »

Specify The Column Width

The column-width property specifies a suggested, optimal width for the columns.

The following example specifies that the suggested, optimal width for the columns should be 100px:

Example

div {
    -webkit-column-width: 100px; /* Chrome, Safari, Opera */
    column-width: 100px;
}
Try it Yourself »

CSS3 Multi-columns Properties

The following table lists all the multi-columns properties: 

Property Description
column-count Specifies the number of columns an element should be divided into
column-fill Specifies how to fill columns
column-gap Specifies the gap between the columns
column-rule A shorthand property for setting all the column-rule-* properties
column-rule-color Specifies the color of the rule between columns
column-rule-style Specifies the style of the rule between columns
column-rule-width Specifies the width of the rule between columns
column-span Specifies how many columns an element should span across
column-width Specifies a suggested, optimal width for the columns
columns A shorthand property for setting column-width and column-count

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