CSS3 Multiple Columns

CSS3 Multiple Columns

With CSS3, you can create multiple columns for laying out text - like in newspapers!

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

column-count
column-gap
column-rule
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
IE
Chrome
Firebox
Safari
Opera
column-count
10.0
4.0 -webkit-
2.0 -moz-
3.1 -webkit-
15.0 -webkit-
11.1
column-gap
10.0
4.0 -webkit-
2.0 -moz-
3.1 -webkit-
15.0 -webkit-
11.1
column-rule
10.0
4.0 -webkit-
2.0 -moz-
3.1 -webkit-
15.0 -webkit-
11.1
CSS3 Create Multiple Columns

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

Example

Divide the text in a <div> element into three columns:

div {
    -webkit-column-count: 3; /* Chrome, Safari, Opera */
    -moz-column-count: 3; /* Firefox */
    column-count: 3;
}
CSS3 Specify the Gap Between Columns

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

Example

Specify a 40 pixels gap between the columns:

div {
    -webkit-column-gap: 40px; /* Chrome, Safari, Opera */
    -moz-column-gap: 40px; /* Firefox */
    column-gap: 40px;
}
 
CSS3 Column Rules
The column-rule property sets the width, style, and color of the rule between columns.

Example

Specify the width, style and color of the rule between columns:

div {
    -webkit-column-rule: 3px outset #ff00ff; /* Chrome, Safari, Opera */
    -moz-column-rule: 3px outset #ff00ff; /* Firefox */
    column-rule: 3px outset #ff00ff;
}
CSS3 Multiple Columns Properties

The following table lists all the multiple columns properties: 

Property
Description
CSS
column-count
Specifies the number of columns an element should be divided into
3
column-fill
Specifies how to fill columns
3
column-gap
Specifies the gap between the columns
3
column-rule
A shorthand property for setting all the column-rule-* properties
3
column-rule-color
Specifies the color of the rule between columns
3
column-rule-style
Specifies the style of the rule between columns
3
column-rule-width
Specifies the width of the rule between columns
3
column-span
Specifies how many columns an element should span across
3
column-width
Specifies the width of the columns
3
columns
A shorthand property for setting column-width and column-count