CSS - columns

The CSS property columns is a shorthand property that sets the number of columns to use while displaying an element's contents, along with the width of these columns.

columns is a shorthand for following properties:

Possible values

The CSS property columns is specified as one or two of the values, that are listed below, in any order:

  • <'column-width'>: Specified as a <length> value or the keyword auto. The actual width may be broader or narrower to fit as per the available space. Refer the column-width.

  • <'column-count'>: Specified as a <integer> value or the keyword auto. Shows the number of columns in which the element's contents are to be displayed. Refer the column-count.

Applies to

All the block containers except the wrapper boxes.

Syntax

columns = <'column-width'> || <'column-count'>

CSS columns - <'column-count'> Value

In the following example the columns shorthand property is used to set the number of columns as three, where no value is passed for column-width:

<html>
<head>
<style> 
   .multicol-col-rule {
      columns: 3;
   }

   p {
      background-color: bisque;
   }
</style>
</head>
<body>
   <h1>columns property</h1>

   <div class="multicol-col-rule">
      <p>Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat.</p>
      <p>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. Typi non habent claritatem insitam; est usus legentis in iis qui facit eorum claritatem. Investigationes demonstraverunt lectores legere me lius quod ii legunt saepius.</p>
   </div>
</body>
</html>

CSS columns - auto value

In the following example the columns shorthand property is used to set the number of columns as auto and column-width: 10rem:

<html>
<head>
<style> 
   .multicol-col-rule {
      columns: 10rem auto;
   }

   p {
      background-color: bisque;
   }
</style>
</head>
<body>
   <h1>columns property</h1>

   <div class="multicol-col-rule">
      <p>Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat.</p>
      <p>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. Typi non habent claritatem insitam; est usus legentis in iis qui facit eorum claritatem. Investigationes demonstraverunt lectores legere me lius quod ii legunt saepius.</p>
   </div>
</body>
</html>

CSS columns - <'column-width'> Value

In the following example the columns shorthand property is used to set the number of columns as based on column-width value, with no direct value specified for column-count:

<html>
<head>
<style> 
   .multicol-col-rule {
      columns: 15em;
   }

   p {
      background-color: bisque;
   }
</style>
</head>
<body>
   <h1>columns property</h1>

   <div class="multicol-col-rule">
      <p>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. Typi non habent claritatem insitam; est usus legentis in iis qui facit eorum claritatem. Investigationes demonstraverunt lectores legere me lius quod ii legunt saepius.</p>
   </div>
</body>
</html>
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