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Usage of CSS border-collapse property
The border-collapse CSS property controls how adjacent table cell borders are displayed. It determines whether borders should merge together or remain separate.
Syntax
border-collapse: collapse | separate | initial | inherit;
Values
| Value | Description |
|---|---|
collapse |
Adjacent borders are merged into a single border |
separate |
Each cell maintains its own borders (default) |
initial |
Sets to default value (separate) |
inherit |
Inherits from parent element |
Example
Here's a comparison showing both collapse and separate values:
<html>
<head>
<style>
table.one {
border-collapse: collapse;
margin: 10px 0;
}
table.two {
border-collapse: separate;
margin: 10px 0;
}
td.a {
border-style: dotted;
border-width: 2px;
border-color: #000000;
padding: 20px;
}
td.b {
border-style: solid;
border-width: 2px;
border-color: #333333;
padding: 20px;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<table class="one">
<caption>Border Collapse</caption>
<tr><td class="a">India</td></tr>
<tr><td class="b">Australia</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="two">
<caption>Border Separate</caption>
<tr><td class="a">India</td></tr>
<tr><td class="b">Australia</td></tr>
</table>
</body>
</html>
How It Works
With border-collapse: collapse, adjacent cell borders merge into a single line. The browser chooses the "winning" border style based on width, style priority, and color.
With border-collapse: separate, each cell maintains its individual borders, creating double borders where cells meet.
Common Use Cases
-
Data tables: Use
collapsefor clean, professional-looking tables -
Layout grids: Use
separatewhen you want distinct cell boundaries -
Form layouts:
collapsecreates seamless input field arrangements
Conclusion
The border-collapse property is essential for table styling. Use collapse for clean data tables and separate when you need distinct cell borders.
Updated on: 2026-03-15T23:18:59+05:30
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