Latest web development tutorials
 

CSS3 Multiple Columns


CSS3 Multi-column Layout

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

Daily Ping

Lorem ipsum
dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum.


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