HTML - span Attribute
HTML span attribute is used to specifies the number of columns a <col> or <colgroup> element should span.
The span attribute is used to span the column, and when we apply CSS properties to the <col> or <colgroup> element, then span will allow us to apply the same CSS properties to several columns.
Syntax
<tag span="2">
Applies on
Below-listed elements allow the use of the HTML span attribute.
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| <colgroup> | HTML <colgroup> tag is used to describe the collection of one or more columns in a table for formatting. |
| <col> | HTML <col> tag is used to offer information about columns. |
Examples of HTML span attribute
Below examples will illustrate the HTML span attribute, where and how we should use this attribute!
Implementing Background Colors on <colgroup> Element
In the following example we will use the span attribute to set the background color of the first three columns by selecting the columns using <colgroup> at once..
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<!-- Used to set the border on the table -->
<style>
table,
th,
td {
border: 1px solid gray;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<h3>HRML span Attribute</h3>
<table>
<colgroup span="3"
style="background:green">
</colgroup>
<tr>
<th>Course</th>
<th>Enroll Date</th>
<th>Status</th>
<th>Certificate</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HTML</td>
<td>30th May</td>
<td>Learning</td>
<td>Not Issued</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CSS</td>
<td>31st May</td>
<td>Learning</td>
<td>Not Issued</td>
</tr>
</table>
</body>
</html>
Implementing Background Colors on <col> Element
In the following example we will use the span attribute to set the background color of the first two columns by selecting the columns using <col> indivitually.
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<!-- Used to set the border on the table -->
<style>
table,
th,
td {
border: 1px solid gray;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<h3>HRML span Attribute</h3>
<table>
<colgroup>
<col span="2" style="background-color:green">
<col style="background-color:yellow">
</colgroup>
<tr>
<th>Course</th>
<th>Enroll Date</th>
<th>Status</th>
<th>Certificate</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HTML</td>
<td>30th May</td>
<td>Learning</td>
<td>Not Issued</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CSS</td>
<td>31st May</td>
<td>Learning</td>
<td>Not Issued</td>
</tr>
</table>
</body>
</html>
Supported Browsers
| Attribute | ![]() |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| span | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |




