• CSS
  • Beginner's tutorials
  • Getting started with CSS
  • Pseudo-classes and pseudo-elements
  • CSS values and units
  • Images, media, and form elements
  • Challenge: Creating fancy letterheaded paper
  • Styling lists
  • CSS layout
    1. Flexbox
    2. Challenge: Fundamental layout comprehension
  • CSS backgrounds and borders
  • CSS box sizing
  • CSS compositing and blending
  • CSS custom properties for cascading variables
  • CSS font loading
  • CSS grid layout
  • CSS logical properties and values
  • CSS multi-column layout
  • CSS overscroll behavior
  • CSS pseudo-elements
  • CSS scroll snap
  • CSS shadow parts
  • CSS text
  • CSS values and units
  • -moz-float-edge Non-standard Deprecated
  • -moz-force-broken-image-icon Non-standard Deprecated
  • -moz-image-region Non-standard
  • -moz-orient Non-standard
  • -moz-user-focus Non-standard Deprecated
  • -moz-user-input Non-standard Deprecated
  • -webkit-*
    1. -webkit-border-before Non-standard
    2. -webkit-box-reflect Non-standard
    3. -webkit-mask-box-image Non-standard
    4. -webkit-mask-composite Non-standard
    5. -webkit-mask-position-x Non-standard
    6. -webkit-mask-position-y Non-standard
    7. -webkit-mask-repeat-x Non-standard
    8. -webkit-mask-repeat-y Non-standard
    9. -webkit-tap-highlight-color Non-standard
    10. -webkit-text-security Non-standard
    11. -webkit-touch-callout Non-standard
  • align-items
  • anchor-name Experimental
  • animation-*
    1. animation-direction
    2. animation-name
    3. animation-range Experimental
    4. animation-range-end Experimental
    5. animation-range-start Experimental
    6. animation-timeline Experimental
    7. backdrop-filter
    8. background-blend-mode
    9. background-origin
    10. background-repeat
    11. border-block
    12. border-block-end-style
    13. border-block-start-style
    14. border-bottom
    15. border-bottom-style
    16. border-end-end-radius
    17. border-image-repeat
    18. border-inline
    19. border-inline-end-style
    20. border-inline-start-style
    21. border-left
    22. border-radius
    23. border-right-width
    24. border-style
    25. border-top-right-radius
    26. bottom
    27. box-*
      1. box-align Non-standard Deprecated
      2. box-direction Non-standard Deprecated
      3. box-flex Non-standard Deprecated
      4. box-flex-group Non-standard Deprecated
      5. box-lines Non-standard Deprecated
      6. box-ordinal-group Non-standard Deprecated
      7. box-orient Non-standard Deprecated
      8. box-pack Non-standard Deprecated
      9. break-before
      10. clear
      11. clip-*
        1. clip Deprecated
        2. color-interpolation
        3. column-fill
        4. column-rule-style
        5. columns
        6. contain-*
          1. contain-intrinsic-inline-size
          2. container-name
          3. counter-increment
          4. cx
          5. display
          6. field-sizing Experimental
          7. fill-*
            1. filter
            2. flex-*
              1. flex-flow
              2. float
              3. font-family
              4. font-optical-sizing
              5. font-smooth Non-standard
              6. font-stretch Deprecated
              7. font-synthesis-position Experimental
              8. font-variant
              9. font-variant-emoji
              10. font-variation-settings
              11. grid
              12. grid-auto-rows
              13. grid-row
              14. grid-template-areas
              15. height
              16. image-orientation
              17. image-resolution Experimental
            3. inset-block
            4. inset-inline-end
            5. interpolate-size Experimental
            6. justify-self
          8. line-break
          9. line-height-step Experimental
        7. list-*
          1. list-style-type
        8. margin-*
          1. margin-block-start
          2. margin-inline-start
          3. margin-trim Experimental
        9. marker-*
          1. marker-start
        10. mask-*
          1. mask-border-outset
          2. mask-border-width
          3. mask-mode
          4. mask-size
          5. math-shift Experimental
          6. max-inline-size
          7. min-inline-size
          8. object-position
          9. offset-*
            1. offset-path
            2. order
            3. outline-offset
            4. overflow-anchor
            5. overflow-wrap
            6. overlay Experimental
            7. overscroll-*
              1. overscroll-behavior-x
              2. padding-block-end
              3. padding-inline-end
              4. padding-top
            8. page-*
              1. page-break-after Deprecated
              2. page-break-before Deprecated
              3. page-break-inside Deprecated
            9. place-content
            10. position
            11. position-anchor Experimental
            12. position-area Experimental
            13. position-try Experimental
            14. position-try-fallbacks Experimental
            15. position-try-order Experimental
            16. position-visibility Experimental
          10. resize
          11. ruby-align
          12. scale
          13. scroll-*
            1. scroll-margin-block-end
            2. scroll-margin-inline-end
            3. scroll-margin-top
            4. scroll-padding-block-start
            5. scroll-padding-inline-start
            6. scroll-snap-align
            7. scroll-timeline Experimental
            8. scroll-timeline-axis Experimental
            9. scroll-timeline-name Experimental
          14. scrollbar-*
            1. shape-image-threshold
            2. speak-as Experimental
            3. stroke-dasharray
            4. stroke-miterlimit
            5. table-layout
            6. text-*
              1. text-box
              2. text-decoration
              3. text-decoration-skip Experimental
              4. text-emphasis
              5. text-indent
              6. text-rendering
              7. text-size-adjust Experimental
              8. text-spacing-trim Experimental
              9. text-wrap
              10. timeline-scope Experimental
              11. transform-box
              12. transition-behavior
              13. transition-timing-function
            7. user-modify Non-standard Deprecated
            8. view-timeline Experimental
            9. view-timeline-axis Experimental
            10. view-timeline-inset Experimental
            11. view-timeline-name Experimental
            12. white-space-collapse
            13. word-break
            14. y
            15. Attribute selectors
            16. Universal selectors
          15. Combinators
            1. Column combinator Experimental
            2. Selector list
            3. :-moz-broken Non-standard Deprecated
            4. :-moz-drag-over Non-standard
            5. :-moz-first-node Experimental Non-standard
            6. :-moz-handler-blocked Non-standard
            7. :-moz-handler-crashed Non-standard
            8. :-moz-handler-disabled Non-standard
            9. :-moz-last-node Experimental Non-standard
            10. :-moz-loading Non-standard
            11. :-moz-locale-dir(ltr) Non-standard
            12. :-moz-locale-dir(rtl) Non-standard
            13. :-moz-only-whitespace Non-standard
            14. :-moz-submit-invalid Non-standard
            15. :-moz-suppressed Non-standard
            16. :-moz-user-disabled Non-standard
            17. :-moz-window-inactive Non-standard
          16. :blank Experimental
          17. :current Experimental
          18. :disabled
          19. :first-child
          20. :focus-within
        11. :has()
        12. :hover
        13. :is()
        14. :left
        15. :local-link Experimental
        16. :nth-child()
        17. :only-child
        18. :out-of-range
        19. :placeholder-shown
        20. :read-write
        21. :scope
        22. :target
        23. :target-within Experimental
        24. :visited
        25. ::-moz-color-swatch Non-standard
        26. ::-moz-focus-inner Experimental Non-standard
        27. ::-moz-list-bullet Experimental Non-standard
        28. ::-moz-list-number Experimental Non-standard
        29. ::-moz-meter-bar Non-standard
        30. ::-moz-progress-bar Experimental Non-standard
        31. ::-moz-range-progress Non-standard
        32. ::-moz-range-thumb Non-standard
        33. ::-moz-range-track Non-standard
      12. ::-webkit-*
        1. ::-webkit-inner-spin-button Non-standard
        2. ::-webkit-meter-bar Non-standard Deprecated
        3. ::-webkit-meter-even-less-good-value Non-standard
        4. ::-webkit-meter-inner-element Non-standard
        5. ::-webkit-meter-optimum-value Non-standard
        6. ::-webkit-meter-suboptimum-value Non-standard
        7. ::-webkit-progress-bar Non-standard
        8. ::-webkit-progress-inner-element Non-standard
        9. ::-webkit-progress-value Non-standard
        10. ::-webkit-scrollbar Non-standard
        11. ::-webkit-search-cancel-button Non-standard
        12. ::-webkit-search-results-button Non-standard
        13. ::-webkit-slider-runnable-track Non-standard
        14. ::-webkit-slider-thumb Non-standard
      13. ::cue
      14. ::first-line
      15. ::part()
      16. ::spelling-error
      17. ::view-transition-image-pair
      18. @color-profile
      19. @document Non-standard Deprecated
      20. @import
      21. @namespace
      22. @position-try Experimental
      23. @supports
      24. -moz-image-rect Non-standard Deprecated
      25. anchor-size() Experimental
      26. anchor() Experimental
      27. attr()
      28. calc-size() Experimental
      29. color-mix()
      30. cos()
      31. cubic-bezier()
      32. element() Experimental
      33. fit-content()
      34. hwb()
      35. inset()
      36. lch()
      37. log()
      38. min()
      39. oklch()
      40. palette-mix() Experimental
      41. scale3d()
      42. scroll() Experimental
      43. sin()
      44. steps()
      45. translateZ()
      46. view() Experimental
      47. <angle-percentage>
      48. <blend-mode>
      49. <color-interpolation-method>
      50. <custom-ident>
      51. <display-inside>
      52. <display-outside>
      53. <frequency-percentage>
      54. <hex-color>
      55. <image>
      56. <line-style>
      57. <overflow>
      58. <position-area> Experimental
      59. <resolution>
      60. <shape> Deprecated
      61. <time-percentage>
      62. Guides
      63. Animations
        1. Box alignment in block layout
        2. Introduction to the CSS basic box model
        3. Using relative colors
        4. Basic concepts of multi-column layout
        5. Handling content breaks in multi-column layout
      64. Conditional rules
        1. Using container size and style queries
      65. CSSOM view
        1. Introduction to formatting contexts
        2. Basic concepts of flexbox
        3. Controlling ratios of flex items along the main axis
        4. Variable fonts guide
      66. Grid
        1. Grid template areas
        2. Grids, logical values, and writing modes
        3. Masonry layout Experimental
      67. Images
        1. Basic concepts of logical properties and values
        2. Using CSS math functions
      68. Media queries
        1. Printing
      69. Nesting style rules
        1. Understanding z-index
      70. Scroll snap
        1. Basic shapes with shape-outside
        2. Using CSS transitions
      71. Center an element
      72. List group with badges
      73. Color picker tool
      74. CSS paged media by creating a print stylesheet.

        In this and subsequent guides, we will be discussing the following properties defined in the CSS multi-column layout module:

  • Defining columns

    By adding the column-count or the column-width property to an element, or using the columns shorthand, the element becomes a multi-column container or multicol container for short. The columns are anonymous boxes; they're described as column boxes in the specification.

    Specifying the number of columns

    The column-count property specifies the number of columns that you would like the content to be displayed as. The browser will then assign the correct amount of space to each column box to create the requested number of columns.

    In the below example, we use the column-count property to create three columns on the .container element. The content, including the children of .container, is then split between the three columns.

    html
    <div class="container">
      <p>
        Veggies es bonus vobis, proinde vos postulo essum magis kohlrabi welsh onion
        daikon amaranth tatsoi tomatillo melon azuki bean garlic.
      </p>
    
      <p>
        Gumbo beet greens corn soko endive gumbo gourd. Parsley shallot courgette
        tatsoi pea sprouts fava bean collard greens dandelion okra wakame tomato.
        Dandelion cucumber earthnut pea peanut soko zucchini.
      </p>
    
      <p>
        Turnip greens yarrow ricebean rutabaga endive cauliflower sea lettuce
        kohlrabi amaranth water spinach avocado daikon napa cabbage asparagus winter
        purslane kale. Celery potato scallion desert raisin horseradish spinach
        carrot soko.
      </p>
    </div>
    
    css
    body {
      font: 1.2em / 1.5 sans-serif;
    }
    
    .container {
      column-count: 3;
    }
    

    In the above example, the content is wrapped within the paragraph <p> tags with the default styling. Therefore, there is a margin above each paragraph. You can see how this margin causes the first line of text to be pushed down. This is because a multicol container creates a block formatting context (BFC) because of which margins on child elements do not collapse with any margin on the container.

    Specifying the width of columns

    The column-width property is used to set the optimal width for every column box. If you declare a column width, the browser will work out how many columns of that width will fit into the multicol container and distribute any extra space equally between the columns. Therefore, the column width should be seen as minimum width because the column boxes are likely to be wider due to the additional space.

    In the case of a single column with less width available than the value of column-width, the column box will shrink to be smaller than the declared column width.

    In the example below, the column-width property is set to 200px. We get as many 200-pixel columns as will fit the container, with the extra space shared equally.

    css
    body {
      font: 1.2em / 1.5 sans-serif;
    }
    
    .container {
      column-width: 200px;
    }
    

    Specifying both number and width of columns

    If you specify both the properties on a multicol container, then column-count will act as a maximum number of columns. Therefore, the behavior as described for column-width will happen, until the number of columns in column-count is reached. After this point, no more columns will be drawn, and the extra space is distributed evenly between the existing columns, even if there is enough room for more columns of the specified column-width size.

    When using both properties together, you may get fewer columns than specified in the value for column-count.

    In this next example, we use column-width of 200px and column-count of 2. Even if there is space for more than two columns, we get two. If there is not enough space for two columns of at least 200 pixels each, we get one.

    css
    body {
      font: 1.2em / 1.5 sans-serif;
    }
    
    .container {
      column-count: 2;
      column-width: 200px;
    }
    

    Shorthand for column properties

    You can use the columns shorthand to set the column-count and column-width values. If you specify a length unit, the value will be used for column-width, and if you specify an integer, the value will be used for column-count. You can set both the properties, separating the two values with a space.

    This CSS would give the same result as the first example, with column-count set to 3.

    css
    .container {
      columns: 3;
    }
    

    This CSS would give the same result as the second example, with column-width of 200px.

    css
    .container {
      columns: 200px;
    }
    

    This CSS would give the same result as the third example, with both column-count and column-width set.

    css
    .container {
      columns: 2 200px;
    }
    

    Next steps

    In this guide, we've learned the basic use of multi-column layout. In the next guide, we will look at how much we can About

    "}},{"type":"prose","value":{"id":"specifying_both_number_and_width_of_columns","title":"Specifying both number and width of columns","isH3":true,"content":"

    If you specify both the properties on a multicol container, then column-count will act as a maximum number of columns. Therefore, the behavior as described for column-width will happen, until the number of columns in column-count is reached. After this point, no more columns will be drawn, and the extra space is distributed evenly between the existing columns, even if there is enough room for more columns of the specified column-width size.

    \n

    When using both properties together, you may get fewer columns than specified in the value for column-count.

    \n

    In this next example, we use column-width of 200px and column-count of 2. Even if there is space for more than two columns, we get two. If there is not enough space for two columns of at least 200 pixels each, we get one.

    \n
    \n
    css
    body {\n  font: 1.2em / 1.5 sans-serif;\n}\n\n.container {\n  column-count: 2;\n  column-width: 200px;\n}\n
    \n