Web/CSS/columns

The columns CSS shorthand property sets the number of columns to use when drawing an element's contents, as well as those columns' widths.

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Constituent properties

This property is a shorthand for the following CSS properties:

Syntax

/* Column width */
columns: 18em;

/* Column count */
columns: auto;
columns: 2;

/* Both column width and count */
columns: 2 auto;
columns: auto 12em;
columns: auto auto;

/* Global values */
columns: inherit;
columns: initial;
columns: unset;

The columns property may be specified as one or two of the values listed below, in any order.

Values

<'column-width'>: The ideal column width, defined as a <length> or the keyword auto. The actual width may be wider or narrower to fit the available space. See column-width.
<'column-count'>: The ideal number of columns into which the element's content should be flowed, defined as an <integer> or the keyword auto. If neither this value nor the column's width are auto, it merely indicates the maximum allowable number of columns. See column-count.

Formal definition

Initial value	as each of the properties of the shorthand: `column-width`: `auto` `column-count`: `auto`
Applies to	Block containers except table wrapper boxes
Inherited	no
Computed value	as each of the properties of the shorthand: `column-width`: the absolute length, zero or larger `column-count`: as specified
Animation type	as each of the properties of the shorthand: `column-width`: a length `column-count`: an integer

Formal syntax

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

Examples

Setting three equal columns

HTML

<p class="content-box">
  This is a bunch of text split into three columns
  using the CSS `columns` property. The text
  is equally distributed over the columns.
</p>

CSS

.content-box {
  columns: 3 auto;
}

Result

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
CSS Multi-column Layout ModuleThe definition of 'columns' in that specification.	Working Draft	Initial definition.

Browser compatibility

Update compatibility data on GitHub

	Desktop						Mobile
	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Internet Explorer	Opera	Safari	Android webview	Chrome for Android	Firefox for Android	Opera for Android	Safari on iOS	Samsung Internet
`columns`	Chrome Full support 50 Full support 50 Full support 50 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-	Edge Full support 12 Full support 12 Full support 12 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-	Firefox Full support 52 Full support 52 No support 9 — 74 Prefixed' Notes' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: -moz- Notes' Prior to version 37, multiple columns didn't work with `display: table-caption` elements.	IE Full support 10	Opera Full support 11.1 Full support 11.1 Full support 15 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-	Safari Full support 9 Full support 9 Full support 3 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-	WebView Android Full support 50 Full support 50 Full support 2 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-	Chrome Android Full support 50	Firefox Android Full support 52 Full support 52 Full support 22 Prefixed' Notes' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: -moz- Notes' Prior to version 37, multiple columns didn't work with `display: table-caption` elements.	Opera Android Full support 11.1 Full support 11.1 Full support 14 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-	Safari iOS Full support 9 Full support 9 Full support 3.2 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-	Samsung Internet Android Full support 5.0

Legend

Full support: Full support
See implementation notes.': See implementation notes.
Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.': Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.

columns by Mozilla Contributors is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.5.