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<!DOCTYPE html><html lang=en><head>
<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv=Content-Type>
<title>CSS Multi-column Layout Module</title>
<link href=../default.css rel=stylesheet type=text/css>
<link href=../csslogo.ico rel="shortcut icon" type=image/x-icon>
<style>
body {
background: url("https://www.w3.org/StyleSheets/TR/logo-ED") top left no-repeat white;
background-attachment: fixed;
color: black;
font-family: sans-serif;
margin: 0 auto;
max-width: 50em;
padding: 2em 1em 2em 70px;
}
:link { color: #00C; background: transparent }
:visited { color: #609; background: transparent }
a[href]:active { color: #C00; background: transparent }
a[href]:hover { background: #ffa }
a[href] img { border-style: none }
h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6 { text-align: left }
h1, h2, h3 { color: #005A9C; }
h1 { font: 170% sans-serif }
h2 { font: 140% sans-serif }
h3 { font: 120% sans-serif }
h4 { font: bold 100% sans-serif }
h5 { font: italic 100% sans-serif }
h6 { font: small-caps 100% sans-serif }
.hide { display: none }
div.head { margin-bottom: 1em }
div.head h1 { margin-top: 2em; clear: both }
div.head table { margin-left: 2em; margin-top: 2em }
p.copyright { font-size: small }
p.copyright small { font-size: small }
pre { margin-left: 2em }
dt { font-weight: bold }
ul.toc, ol.toc {
list-style: none;
}
</style>
<style type=text/css>
.cols { width: 500px; height: 200px; background: #fff; position: relative; border: solid 5px blue; margin: 0.5em 2em 1em 0; font: bold 14px/19px Arial, sans-serif }
.cols p { padding: 3px; margin: 0 }
.col { position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0; z-index: 6; width: 170px }
.gap { position: absolute; background: green; width: 5px; bottom: 0px; top: 0px; border: 10px solid yellow; border-top-width: 0; border-bottom-width: 0; }
.rep { position: absolute; top: 45px; background: black; height: 110px; width: 100px; color: white; z-index: 4 }
table.breaks { border-collapse: collapse; margin: 1em 0 }
table.breaks td, table.breaks th { border: thin solid black; padding: 0.1em 0.2em }
div.example:before { width: 9em }
</style>
</head>
<body class=h-entry>
<div class=head>
<p data-fill-with=logo><a class=logo href=http://www.w3.org/>
<img alt=W3C height=48 src=https://www.w3.org/Icons/w3c_home width=72>
</a>
</p>
<h1 class="p-name no-ref" id=title>CSS Multi-column Layout Module</h1>
<h2 class="no-num no-toc no-ref heading settled heading" id=subtitle><span class=content>Editor’s Draft,
<span class=dt-updated><span class=value-title title=20140721>21 July 2014</span></span></span></h2>
<div data-fill-with=spec-metadata><dl>
<dt>This version:
<dd><a class=u-url href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-multicol/>http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-multicol/</a>
<dt>Latest version:
<dd><a href=http://www.w3.org/TR/css3-multicol/>http://www.w3.org/TR/css3-multicol/</a>
<dt>Previous Versions:
<dd><dd><a href=http://www.w3.org/TR/2011/CR-css3-multicol-20110412/ rel=previous>http://www.w3.org/TR/2011/CR-css3-multicol-20110412/</a>
<dd><dd><a href=http://www.w3.org/TR/2009/CR-css3-multicol-20091217/ rel=previous>http://www.w3.org/TR/2009/CR-css3-multicol-20091217/</a>
<dd><dd><a href=http://www.w3.org/TR/2009/WD-css3-multicol-20090630/ rel=previous>http://www.w3.org/TR/2009/WD-css3-multicol-20090630/</a>
<dd><dd><a href=http://www.w3.org/TR/2007/WD-css3-multicol-20070606/ rel=previous>http://www.w3.org/TR/2007/WD-css3-multicol-20070606/</a>
<dd><dd><a href=http://www.w3.org/TR/2005/WD-css3-multicol-20051215/ rel=previous>http://www.w3.org/TR/2005/WD-css3-multicol-20051215/</a>
<dd><dd><a href=http://www.w3.org/TR/2001/WD-css3-multicol-20010118/ rel=previous>http://www.w3.org/TR/2001/WD-css3-multicol-20010118/</a>
<dd><dd><a href=http://www.w3.org/1999/06/WD-css3-multicol-19990623/ rel=previous>http://www.w3.org/1999/06/WD-css3-multicol-19990623/</a>
<dt>Feedback:
<dd><a href="mailto:www-style@w3.org?subject=%5Bcss-multicol%5D%20feedback">www-style@w3.org</a>
with subject line
“<kbd>[css-multicol] <var>… message topic …</var></kbd>”(<a href=http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/www-style/ rel=discussion>archives</a>)
<dt>Editor:
<dd><dd class="p-author h-card vcard"><a class="p-name fn u-email email" href=mailto:howcome@opera.com>Håkon Wium Lie</a> (<span class="p-org org">Opera Software</span>)
</dl>
</div>
<div data-fill-with=warning></div>
<p class=copyright data-fill-with=copyright><a href=http://www.w3.org/Consortium/Legal/ipr-notice#Copyright>Copyright</a> © 2014 <a href=http://www.w3.org/><abbr title="World Wide Web Consortium">W3C</abbr></a><sup>®</sup> (<a href=http://www.csail.mit.edu/><abbr title="Massachusetts Institute of Technology">MIT</abbr></a>, <a href=http://www.ercim.eu/><abbr title="European Research Consortium for Informatics and Mathematics">ERCIM</abbr></a>, <a href=http://www.keio.ac.jp/>Keio</a>, <a href=http://ev.buaa.edu.cn/>Beihang</a>), All Rights Reserved. W3C <a href=http://www.w3.org/Consortium/Legal/ipr-notice#Legal_Disclaimer>liability</a>, <a href=http://www.w3.org/Consortium/Legal/ipr-notice#W3C_Tradema
8097
rks>trademark</a> and <a href=http://www.w3.org/Consortium/Legal/copyright-documents>document use</a> rules apply.
</p>
<hr title="Separator for header">
</div>
<h2 class="no-num no-toc no-ref heading settled heading" id=abstract><span class=content>Abstract</span></h2>
<div class=p-summary data-fill-with=abstract><p>This specification describes multi-column layouts in CSS, a style sheet language for the web. Using functionality described in the specification, content can be flowed into multiple columns with a gap and a rule between them.</p>
<a href=http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS/>CSS</a> is a language for describing the rendering of structured documents
(such as HTML and XML)
on screen, on paper, in speech, etc.</div>
<h2 class="no-num no-toc no-ref heading settled heading" id=status><span class=content>Status of this document</span></h2>
<div data-fill-with=status><p>
This is a public copy of the editors’ draft.
It is provided for discussion only and may change at any moment.
Its publication here does not imply endorsement of its contents by W3C.
Don’t cite this document other than as work in progress.
<p>
The (<a href=http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/www-style/>archived</a>) public mailing list
<a href="mailto:www-style@w3.org?Subject=%5Bcss-multicol%5D%20PUT%20SUBJECT%20HERE">www-style@w3.org</a>
(see <a href=http://www.w3.org/Mail/Request>instructions</a>)
is preferred for discussion of this specification.
When sending e-mail,
please put the text “css-multicol” in the subject,
preferably like this:
“[css-multicol] <em>…summary of comment…</em>”
<p>
This document was produced by the <a href=http://www.w3.org/Style/CSS/members>CSS Working Group</a>
(part of the <a href=http://www.w3.org/Style/>Style Activity</a>).
<p>
This document was produced by a group operating under
the <a href=http://www.w3.org/Consortium/Patent-Policy-20040205/>5 February 2004 W3C Patent Policy</a>.
W3C maintains a <a href=http://www.w3.org/2004/01/pp-impl/32061/status rel=disclosure>public list of any patent disclosures</a>
made in connection with the deliverables of the group;
that page also includes instructions for disclosing a patent.
An individual who has actual knowledge of a patent which the individual believes contains <a href=http://www.w3.org/Consortium/Patent-Policy-20040205/#def-essential>Essential Claim(s)</a>
must disclose the information in accordance with <a href=http://www.w3.org/Consortium/Patent-Policy-20040205/#sec-Disclosure>section 6 of the W3C Patent Policy</a>.</div>
<div data-fill-with=at-risk></div>
<h2 class="no-num no-toc no-ref heading settled heading" id=contents><span class=content>Table of Contents</span></h2>
<div data-fill-with=table-of-contents><ul class=toc>
<li><a href=#introduction><span class=secno>1</span> Introduction</a>
<li><a href=#the-multi-column-model><span class=secno>2</span> The multi-column model</a>
<li><a href=#the-number-and-width-of-columns><span class=secno>3</span> The number and width of columns</a>
<ul class=toc>
<li><a href=#cw><span class=secno>3.1</span> <span class=property data-link-type=propdesc title=column-width>column-width</span></a>
<li><a href=#cc><span class=secno>3.2</span> <span class=property data-link-type=propdesc title=column-count>column-count</span></a>
<li><a href=#columns><span class=secno>3.3</span> <span class=property data-link-type=propdesc title=columns>columns</span></a>
<li><a href=#pseudo-algorithm><span class=secno>3.4</span> Pseudo-algorithm</a>
<li><a href=#stacking-context><span class=secno>3.5</span> Stacking context</a></ul>
<li><a href=#column-gaps-and-rules><span class=secno>4</span> Column gaps and rules</a>
<ul class=toc>
<li><a href=#column-gap><span class=secno>4.1</span> <span class=property data-link-type=propdesc title=column-gap>column-gap</span></a>
<li><a href=#crc><span class=secno>4.2</span> <span class=property data-link-type=propdesc title=column-rule-color>column-rule-color</span></a>
<li><a href=#crs><span class=secno>4.3</span> <span class=property data-link-type=propdesc title=column-rule-style>column-rule-style</span></a>
<li><a href=#crw><span class=secno>4.4</span> <span class=property data-link-type=propdesc title=column-rule-width>column-rule-width</span></a>
<li><a href=#column-rule><span class=secno>4.5</span> <span class=property data-link-type=propdesc title=column-rule>column-rule</span></a></ul>
<li><a href=#column-breaks><span class=secno>5</span> Column breaks</a>
<ul class=toc>
<li><a href=#break-before-break-after-break-inside><span class=secno>5.1</span> <span class=property data-link-type=propdesc title=break-before>break-before</span>, <span class=property data-link-type=propdesc title=break-after>break-after</span>, <span class=property data-link-type=propdesc title=break-inside>break-inside</span></a></ul>
<li><a href=#spanning-columns><span class=secno>6</span> Spanning columns</a>
<ul class=toc>
<li><a href=#column-span><span class=secno>6.1</span> <span class=property data-link-type=propdesc title=column-span>column-span</span></a></ul>
<li><a href=#filling-columns><span class=secno>7</span> Filling columns</a>
<ul class=toc>
<li><a href=#cf><span class=secno>7.1</span> <span class=property data-link-type=propdesc title=column-fill>column-fill</span></a></ul>
<li><a href=#overflow><span class=secno>8</span> Overflow</a>
<ul class=toc>
<li><a href=#overflow-inside-multicol-elements><span class=secno>8.1</span> Overflow inside multicol elements</a>
<li><a href=#pagination-and-overflow-outside-multicol><span class=secno>8.2</span> Pagination and overflow outside multicol elements</a></ul>
<li><a href=#acknowledgments><span class=secno></span> Acknowledgments</a>
<li><a href=#conformance><span class=secno></span> Conformance</a>
<ul class=toc>
<li><a href=#conventions><span class=secno></span> Document conventions</a>
<li><a href=#conformance-classes><span class=secno></span> Conformance classes</a>
<li><a href=#partial><span class=secno></span> Partial implementations</a>
<li><a href=#experimental><span class=secno></span> Experimental implementations</a>
<li><a href=#testing><span class=secno></span> Non-experimental implementations</a></ul>
<li><a href=#references><span class=secno></span> References</a>
<ul class=toc>
<li><a href=#normative><span class=secno></span> Normative References</a>
<li><a href=#informative><span class=secno></span> Informative References</a></ul>
<li><a href=#index><span class=secno></span> Index</a>
<li><a href=#property-index><span class=secno></span> Property index</a></ul></div>
<h2 class="heading settled heading" data-level=1 id=introduction><span class=secno>1 </span><span class=content>
Introduction</span><a class=self-link href=#introduction></a></h2>
<p>(This section is not normative.)</p>
<p>This module describes multi-column layout in CSS. By using
functionality described in this document, style sheets can declare
that the content of an element is to be laid out in multiple
columns.</p>
<p>On the Web, tables have also been used to describe multi-column
layouts. The main benefit of using CSS-based columns is flexibility;
content can flow from one column to another, and the number of columns
can vary depending on the size of the viewport. Removing presentation
table markup from documents allows them to more easily be presented on
various output devices including speech synthesizers and small mobile
devices.</p>
<p>Multi-column layouts are easy to describe in CSS. Here is a simple example:</p>
<div class=example>
<pre>body { column-width: 12em }</pre>
<p>In this example, the <code class=html>body</code> element is
set to have columns at least <span class=css data-link-type=maybe title=12em>12em</span> wide. The exact number of
columns will depend on the available space.</p>
</div>
<p>The number of columns can also be set explicitly in the style sheet:</p>
<div class=example>
<pre>body { column-count: 2 }</pre>
<p>In this case, the number of columns is fixed and the column widths
will vary depending on the available width.</p>
</div>
<p>The shorthand <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-columns title=columns>columns</a> property can be used to set either,
or both, properties in one declaration.</p>
<div class=example>
In these examples, the number of columns, the width of columns, and
both the number and width are set, respectively:
<pre>body { columns: 2 }
body { columns: 12em }
body { columns: 2 12em }
</pre>
<p>However, as described below, setting both the width and number of
columns rarely makes sense.</p>
</div>
<p>Another group of properties introduced in this module describe
gaps and rules between columns.</p>
<div class=example>
<pre>body {
column-gap: 1em;
column-rule: thin solid black;
}
</pre>
<p>The first declaration in the example above sets the gap between two
adjacent columns to be 1em. Column gaps are similar to padding areas.
In the middle of the gap there will be a rule which is described by
the <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-rule title=column-rule>column-rule</a> property.</p>
</div>
<p>The values of the <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-rule title=column-rule>column-rule</a> property are similar to those of
the CSS border properties. Like <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-backgrounds-3/#border title=border>border</a>, <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-rule title=column-rule>column-rule</a> is a
shorthand property.</p>
<div class=example>
In this example, the shorthand <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-rule title=column-rule>column-rule</a> declaration from the
above example has been expanded:
<pre>body {
column-gap: 1em;
column-rule-width: thin;
column-rule-style: solid;
column-rule-color: black;
}
</pre>
</div>
<p>The <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-fill title=column-fill>column-fill</a> and <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-span title=column-span>column-span</a> properties give style sheets a
wider range of visual expressions in multi-column layouts.</p>
<div class=example>
In this example, columns are set to be balanced, i.e., to have
approximately the same length. Also, <code>h2</code> elements are set
to span across all columns.
<pre>div { column-fill: balance }
h2 { column-span: all }
</pre>
</div>
<p>This specification introduces ten new properties, all of which
are used in the examples above.</p>
<p>To indicate where column breaks should (or should not) appear, new
keyword values are introduced.</p>
<div class=example>
In this example, <code>h1</code> elements will always have a column
break before them, but the formatter will try to avoid column breaks
inside and after the element.
<pre>h1 {
break-before: column;
break-inside: avoid-column;
break-after: avoid-column;
}
</pre>
</div>
<p>If all column properties have their initial value, the layout of
an element will be identical to a multi-column layout with only one
column.</p>
<h2 class="heading settled heading" data-level=2 id=the-multi-column-model><span class=secno>2 </span><span class=content>
The multi-column model</span><a class=self-link href=#the-multi-column-model></a></h2>
<p>A <dfn data-dfn-type=dfn data-noexport="" id=multi-column-element title="multi-column element|multicol element">multi-column element<a class=self-link href=#multi-column-element></a></dfn>
(or <em>multicol element</em> for short)
is an element whose <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-width title=column-width>column-width</a> or <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-count title=column-count>column-count</a>
property is not <a class=css data-link-for=column-width data-link-type=maybe href=#valuedef-auto0 title=auto>auto</a> and therefore acts as a container for
multi-column layout.</p>
<p>In the traditional CSS box model, the content of an element is
flowed into the content box of the corresponding element. Multi-column
layout introduces a new type of container between the content box and
the content, namely the <dfn data-dfn-type=dfn data-noexport="" id=column-box>column box<a class=self-link href=#column-box></a></dfn> (or <em>column</em> for
short). The content of a multicol element is flowed into its column
boxes.</p>
<p>Column boxes in a multi-column element are arranged
into <em>rows</em>. Like table cells, the column boxes in a row are
ordered in the inline direction of the multicol element. The
<em>column width</em> is the length of the column box in the inline
direction. The <em>column height</em> is the length of the column box
in the block direction. All column boxes in a row have the same column width, and all
column boxes in a row have the same column height. Within each row in the multi-column element,
adjacent column boxes are separated by a <em>column gap</em>, which
may contain a <em>column rule</em>. All column gaps in the same row
are equal. All column rules in the same row are also equal, if they
appear; column rules only appear between columns that both have
content.</p>
<p>In the simplest case a multicol element will contain only one row
of columns, and the height of each column will be equivalent to the
used height of the multi-column element’s content box.</p>
<div class=example>
Column gaps (yellow) and column rules (green) are shown in this
sample rendition of a multi-column element with padding (blue). The
blue and yellow is present for illustrational purposes only. In actual
implementations these areas will be determined by the background.
<div class=cols>
<div class=col style="">
Ab cde fgh i jkl. Mno<br>
pqr stu vw xyz. A bc<br>
def g hij klm nopqrs<br>
tuv wxy z. Abc de fg<br>
hi jklmno. Pqrstu vw<br>
x yz. Abc def ghi jkl.<br>
M nop qrst uv wx yz.<br>
<br>
Ab cde fgh i jkl. Mno<br>
pqr stu vw xyz. A bc<br>
def g hij klm nopqrs
</div>
<div class=col style="left: 175px">
tuv wxy z. Abc de fg<br>
hi jklmno. Pqrstu vw<br>
x yz. Abc def ghi jkl.<br>
M nop qrst uv wx yz.<br>
<br>
Ab cde fgh i jkl. Mno<br>
pqr stu vw xyz. A bc<br>
def g hij klm nopqrs<br>
tuv wxy z. Abc de fg<br>
hi jklmno. Pqrstu vw<br>
x yz. Abc def ghi jkl.<br>
</div>
<div class=col style="left: 350px">
M nop qrst uv wx yz.<br>
<br>
Ab cde fgh i jkl. Mno<br>
pqr stu vw xyz. A bc<br>
def g hij klm nopqrs<br>
tuv wxy z. Abc de fg<br>
hi jklmno. Pqrstu vw<br>
x yz. Abc def ghi jkl.<br>
<br>
M nop qrst uv wx yz.<br>
Ab cde fgh i jkl. Mno<br>
Pqr stu vw xyz.
</div>
<div class=gap style="left: 150px"></div>
<div class=gap style="left: 325px"></div>
</div>
</div>
<p>If the multi-column element is paginated, the height of each row is
constrained by the page and the content continues in a new row of
column boxes on the next page; a column box never splits across pages.</p>
<p>The same effect occurs when a <em>spanning element</em> divides the
multi-column element: the columns before the spanning element are
balanced and shortened to fit their content. Content after the
spanning element then flows into a new row of column boxes.</p>
<div class=example>
<div class=cols>
Ab cde fgh i jkl. Mno<br>
pqr stu vw xyz. A bc<br>
<br>
<br>
M nop qrst uv wx yz.<br>
Ab cde fgh i jkl. Mno<br>
pqr stu vw xyz. A bc<br>
def g hij klm nopqrs<br>
tuv wxy z. Abc de fg<br>
hi jklmno. Pqrstu vw<br>
<div class=col style="left: 175px">
def g hij klm nopqrs<br>
tuv wxy z. Abc de fg<br>
<br>
<br>
x yz. Abc def ghi jkl.<br>
M nop qrst uv wx yz.<br>
Ab cde fgh i jkl. Mno<br>
pqr stu vw xyz. A bc<br>
def g hij klm nopqrs<br>
tuv wxy z. Abc de fg<br>
</div>
<div class=col style="left: 350px">
hi jklmno. Pqrstu vw<br>
x yz. Abc def ghi jkl.<br>
<br>
<br>
hi jklmno. Pqrstu vw<br>
x yz. Abc def ghi jkl.<br>
M nop qrst uv wx yz.<br>
Ab cde fgh i jkl. Mno<br>
pqr stu vw xyz.
</div>
<div class=rep style="width: 490px; height: 20px; background: silver; font-size: 1.5em; padding: 5px">A spanning element</div>
<div class=gap style="left: 150px"></div>
<div class=gap style="left: 325px"></div>
</div>
</div>
<p>Column boxes are block container boxes. That
is, column boxes behave like block-level, table cell, and inline-block
boxes as per CSS 2.1, section 10.1, item 2 <a data-biblio-type=normative data-link-type=biblio href=#biblio-css21 title=biblio-CSS21>[CSS21]</a>. However, column
boxes do not establish block container boxes for elements with ''position:
fixed<span class=css data-link-type=maybe title=" or "> or </span>position: absolute''.</p>
<div class=example>
In this example, the width of the image is set with these rules:
<pre class=css>img { display: block; width: 100% }
</pre>
<p>Given that the width is calculated relative to the column box, the
image will be as wide as the column box:</p>
<div class=cols>
Ab cde fgh i jkl. Mno<br>
pqr stu vw xyz. A bc<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
def g hij klm nopqrs<br>
tuv wxy z. Abc de fg<br>
<div class=col style="left: 175px">
hi jklmno. Pqrstu vw<br>
x yz. Abc def ghi jkl.<br>
M nop qrst uv wx yz.<br>
Ab cde fgh i jkl. Mno<br>
pqr stu vw xyz. A bc<br>
def g hij klm nopqrs<br>
tuv wxy z. Abc de fg<br>
hi jklmno. Pqrstu vw<br>
x yz. Abc def ghi jkl.<br>
M nop qrst uv wx yz.<br>
</div>
<div class=col style="left: 350px">
Ab cde fgh i jkl. Mno<br>
pqr stu vw xyz. A bc<br>
def g hij klm nopqrs<br>
tuv wxy z. Abc de fg<br>
hi jklmno. Pqrstu vw<br>
x yz. Abc def ghi jkl.<br>
M nop qrst uv wx yz.<br>
Ab cde fgh i jkl. Mno<br>
pqr stu vw xyz.
</div>
<div class=rep style="width: 150px"></div>
<div class=gap style="left: 150px"></div>
<div class=gap style="left: 325px"></div>
</div>
</div>
<p>Floats that appear inside multi-column layouts are positioned with
regard to the column box where the float appears.</p>
<div class=example>
In this example, this CSS fragment describes the presentation of the image:
<pre class=css>img { display: block; float: right }
</pre>
<div class=cols>
<div class=col style="">
Ab cde fgh i jkl. Mno<br>
pqr stu vw xyz. A bc<br>
def g<br>
hij klm<br>
nopq<br>
rs tuv<br>
wxy x<br>
yz. Ab <br>
cde fgh i jkl. Mno<br>
pqr stu vw xyz. A bc
</div>
<div class=col style="left: 175px">
def g hij klm nopqrs<br>
tuv wxy z. Abc de fg<br>
hi jklmno. Pqrstu vw<br>
x yz. Abc def ghi jkl.<br>
M nop qrst uv wx yz.<br>
Ab cde fgh i jkl. Mno<br>
pqr stu vw xyz. A bc<br>
def g hij klm nopqrs<br>
tuv wxy z. Abc de fg<br>
hi jklmno. Pqrstu vw<br>
</div>
<div class=col style="left: 350px">
x yz. Abc def ghi jkl.<br>
M nop qrst uv wx yz.<br>
Ab cde fgh i jkl. Mno<br>
pqr stu vw xyz. A bc<br>
def g hij klm nopqrs<br>
tuv wxy z. Abc de fg<br>
hi jklmno. Pqrstu vw<br>
x yz. Abc def ghi jkl.<br>
M nop qrst uv wx yz.<br>
</div>
<div class=rep style="left: 50px"></div>
<div class=gap style="left: 150px"></div>
<div class=gap style="left: 325px"></div>
</div>
<p>The black box represents the image.</p>
</div>
<p>A multi-column element establishes a new block formatting context,
as per CSS 2.1 section 9.4.1.</p>
<div class=example>
A top margin set on the first child element of a multicol element will not collapse with the margins of the multicol element.
</div>
<p>Nested multi-column elements are allowed, but there may be
implementation-specific limits.</p>
<p class=note>Note: It is not possible to set properties/values on column boxes. For
example, the background of a certain column box cannot be set and a
column box has no concept of padding, margin or borders. Future specifications may add additional
functionality. For example, columns of different widths and different
backgrounds may be supported.</p>
<p class=note>Note: Multicol elements with column heights larger than the viewport may pose accessibility issues.</p>
<h2 class="heading settled heading" data-level=3 id=the-number-and-width-of-columns><span class=secno>3 </span><span class=content>
The number and width of columns</span><a class=self-link href=#the-number-and-width-of-columns></a></h2>
<p>Finding the number and width of columns is fundamental when laying
out multi-column content. These properties are used to set the number
and width of columns:</p>
<ul>
<li><a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-count title=column-count>column-count</a>
<li><a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-width title=column-width>column-width</a>
</ul>
<p>A third property, <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-columns title=columns>columns</a>, is a shorthand property which sets both
<a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-width title=column-width>column-width</a> and <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-count title=column-count>column-count</a>.</p>
<p>Other factors, such as explicit column breaks, content, and height
constraints, may influence the actual number and width of columns.</p>
<h3 class="heading settled heading" data-level=3.1 id=cw><span class=secno>3.1 </span><span class=content>
<a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-width title=column-width>column-width</a></span><a class=self-link href=#cw></a></h3>
<table class="definition propdef"><tr><th>Name:<td><dfn class=css-code data-dfn-type=property data-export="" id=propdef-column-width>column-width<a class=self-link href=#propdef-column-width></a></dfn><tr><th>Value:<td class=prod>auto <a class=prod-punc data-link-type=grammar href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#comb-one title=|>|</a> <a class="production css-code" data-link-type=type href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#length-value title="<length>"><length></a><tr><th>Initial:<td>auto<tr><th>Applies to:<td>non-replaced block-level elements (except table elements), table cells, and inline-block elements<tr><th>Inherited:<td>no<tr><th>Media:<td>visual<tr><th>Computed value:<td>the absolute length, zero or larger<tr><th>Percentages:<td>N/A<tr><th>Animatable:<td>as <a class="production css-code" data-link-type=type href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#length-value title="<length>"><length></a></table>
<p>This property describes the width of columns in multicol elements.</p>
<dl data-dfn-for=column-width data-dfn-type=value>
<dt><dfn class=css-code data-dfn-for=column-width data-dfn-type=value data-export="" id=valuedef-auto0>auto<a class=self-link href=#valuedef-auto0></a></dfn>
<dd>
means that the column width will be determined by other properties
(e.g., <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-count title=column-count>column-count</a>, if it has a non-auto value).
<dt><dfn class=css-code data-dfn-for=column-width data-dfn-type=value data-export="" id=valuedef-length0><a class="production css-code" data-link-type=type href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#length-value title="<length>"><length></a><a class=self-link href=#valuedef-length0></a></dfn>
<dd>
describes the optimal column width. The actual column width may be
wider (to fill the available space), or narrower (only if the
available space is smaller than the specified column width). Specified values
must be greater than 0.
</dl>
<div class=example>
For example, consider this style sheet:
<pre>div {
width: 100px;
column-width: 45px;
column-gap: 0;
column-rule: none;
}
</pre>
<p>There is room for two 45px wide columns inside the 100px wide element. In
order to fill the available space the actual column width will be
increased to 50px.</p>
</div>
<div class=example>
Also, consider this style sheet:
<pre>div {
width: 40px;
column-width: 45px;
column-gap: 0;
column-rule: none;
}
</pre>
<p>The available space is smaller than the specified column width and
the actual column width will therefore be decreased.</p>
</div>
<p>To ensure that <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-width title=column-width>column-width</a> can be used with vertical text,
column width means the length of the line boxes inside the columns.</p>
<p class=note>Note: The reason for making <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-width title=column-width>column-width</a> somewhat flexible
is to achieve scalable designs that can fit many screen sizes. To set
an exact column width, the column gap and the width of the multicol
element (assuming horizontal text) must also be specified.</p>
<h3 class="heading settled heading" data-level=3.2 id=cc><span class=secno>3.2 </span><span class=content>
<a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-count title=column-count>column-count</a></span><a class=self-link href=#cc></a></h3>
<table class="definition propdef"><tr><th>Name:<td><dfn class=css-code data-dfn-type=property data-export="" id=propdef-column-count>column-count<a class=self-link href=#propdef-column-count></a></dfn><tr><th>Value:<td class=prod>auto <a class=prod-punc data-link-type=grammar href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#comb-one title=|>|</a> <a class="production css-code" data-link-type=type href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-syntax-3/#typedef-integer title="<integer>"><integer></a><tr><th>Initial:<td>auto<tr><th>Applies to:<td>non-replaced block-level elements (except table elements), table cells, and inline-block elements<tr><th>Inherited:<td>no<tr><th>Media:<td>visual<tr><th>Computed value:<td>specified value<tr><th>Percentages:<td>N/A<tr><th>Animatable:<td>as <a class="production css-code" data-link-type=type href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-syntax-3/#typedef-integer title="<integer>"><integer></a></table>
<p>This property describes the number of columns of a multicol element.</p>
<dl data-dfn-for=column-count data-dfn-type=value>
<dt><dfn class=css-code data-dfn-for=column-count data-dfn-type=value data-export="" id=valuedef-auto1>auto<a class=self-link href=#valuedef-auto1></a></dfn>
<dd>
means that the number of columns will be determined by other properties
(e.g., <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-width title=column-width>column-width</a>, if it has a non-auto value).
<dt><dfn class=css-code data-dfn-for=column-count data-dfn-type=value data-export="" id=valuedef-integer><a class="production css-code" data-link-type=type href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-syntax-3/#typedef-integer title="<integer>"><integer></a><a class=self-link href=#valuedef-integer></a></dfn>
<dd>
describes the optimal number of columns into which the content of
the element will be flowed. Values must be greater than 0. If both
<a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-width title=column-width>column-width</a> and <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-count title=column-count>column-count</a> have non-auto values, the integer
value describes the maximum number of columns.
</dl>
<div class=example>
Example:
<pre>body { column-count: 3 }</pre>
</div>
<h3 class="heading settled heading" data-level=3.3 id=columns><span class=secno>3.3 </span><span class=content>
<a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-columns title=columns>columns</a></span><a class=self-link href=#columns></a></h3>
<table class="definition propdef"><tr><th>Name:<td><dfn class=css-code data-dfn-type=property data-export="" id=propdef-columns>columns<a class=self-link href=#propdef-columns></a></dfn><tr><th>Value:<td class=prod><a class=production data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-width title=column-width><‘column-width’></a> <a class=prod-punc data-link-type=grammar href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#comb-any title=||>||</a> <a class=production data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-count title=column-count><‘column-count’></a><tr><th>Initial:<td>see individual properties<tr><th>Applies to:<td>see individual properties<tr><th>Inherited:<td>see individual properties<tr><th>Media:<td>see individual properties<tr><th>Computed value:<td>see individual properties<tr><th>Percentages:<td>see individual properties<tr><th>Animatable:<td>see individual properties</table>
<p>This is a shorthand property for setting <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-width title=column-width>column-width</a> and
<a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-count title=column-count>column-count</a>. Omitted values are set to their initial values.</p>
<div class=example>
Here are some valid declarations using the <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-columns title=columns>columns</a> property:
<pre>columns: 12em; /* column-width: 12em; column-count: auto */
columns: auto 12em; /* column-width: 12em; column-count: auto */
columns: 2; /* column-width: auto; column-count: 2 */
columns: 2 auto; /* column-width: auto; column-count: 2 */
columns: auto; /* column-width: auto; column-count: auto */
columns: auto auto; /* column-width: auto; column-count: auto */
</pre>
</div>
<h3 class="heading settled heading" data-level=3.4 id=pseudo-algorithm><span class=secno>3.4 </span><span class=content>
Pseudo-algorithm</span><a class=self-link href=#pseudo-algorithm></a></h3>
<p>The pseudo-algorithm below determines the used values for
<a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-count title=column-count>column-count</a> (N) and <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-width title=column-width>column-width</a> (W) when . There is one other variable
in the pseudo-algorithm: U is the used width of the multi-column
element.</p>
<p class=note>Note: The used width U of the multi-column element can depend on the element’s contents,
in which case it also depends on the computed values of the <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-count title=column-count>column-count</a> and <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-width title=column-width>column-width</a> properties.
This specification does not define how U is calculated.
Another module
(probably the Basic Box Model <a data-biblio-type=informative data-link-type=biblio href=#biblio-css3box title=biblio-CSS3BOX>[CSS3BOX]</a> or the Intrinsic & Extrinsic Sizing Module <a data-biblio-type=informative data-link-type=biblio href=#biblio-css3-sizing title=biblio-CSS3-SIZING>[CSS3-SIZING]</a>)
is expected to define this.</p>
<p>The <code>floor(X)</code> function returns the largest integer Y ≤ X.</p>
<pre>(01) if ((column-width = auto) and (column-count = auto)) then
(02) exit; /* not a multicol element */
(03) if column-width = auto then
(04) N := column-count
(05) else if column-count = auto then
(06) N := max(1,
(07) floor((U + column-gap)/(column-width + column-gap)))
(08) else
(09) N := min(column-count, max(1,
(10) floor((U + column-gap)/(column-width + column-gap))))
</pre>
<p>And:</p>
<pre>(11) W := max(0, ((U + column-gap)/N - column-gap))
</pre>
<p>In paged media, user agents may perform this calculation on a
per-page basis.</p>
<p>The used value for <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-count title=column-count>column-count</a> is calculated without
regard for explicit column breaks or constrained column heights,
while the actual value takes these into consideration.</p>
<div class=example>
In this example, the actual column-count is higher than the used column-count due to explicit column breaks:
<pre>div { width: 40em; columns: 20em; column-gap: 0 }
p { break-after: column }
<div>
<p>one
<p>two
<p>three
</div>
</pre>
<p>The computed column-count is auto, the used column-count is 2 and the actual column-count is 3.</p>
</div>
<div class=example>
The actual column-count may be lower than the used column-count. Consider this example:
<pre>div {
width: 80em;
height: 10em;
columns: 20em;
column-gap: 0;
column-fill: auto;
}
<div>foo</div>
</pre>
<p>The computed column-count is auto, the used column-count is 4, and the actual column-count is 1.</p>
</div>
<h3 class="heading settled heading" data-level=3.5 id=stacking-context><span class=secno>3.5 </span><span class=content>
Stacking context</span><a class=self-link href=#stacking-context></a></h3>
<p>All column boxes in a multi-column element are in the same stacking
context and the drawing order of their contents is as specified in
CSS 2.1. Column boxes do not establish new stacking contexts.</p>
<h2 class="heading settled heading" data-level=4 id=column-gaps-and-rules><span class=secno>4 </span><span class=content>
Column gaps and rules</span><a class=self-link href=#column-gaps-and-rules></a></h2>
<p>Column gaps and rules are placed between columns in the same
multicol element. The length of the column gaps and column rules
is equal to the column height. Column gaps take up space. That
is, column gaps will push apart content in adjacent columns (within
the same multicol element).</p>
<p>A column rule is drawn in the middle of the column gap with the
endpoints at opposing content edges of the multicol element. Column
rules do not take up space. That is, the presence or thickness of a
column rule will not alter the placement of anything else. If a column
rule is wider than its gap, the adjacent column boxes will overlap the
rule, and the rule may possibly extend outside the box of the multicol
element. Column rules are painted in the inline content layer, but
below all inline content inside the multicol element. Column rules are
only drawn between two columns that both have content.</p>
<h3 class="heading settled heading" data-level=4.1 id=column-gap><span class=secno>4.1 </span><span class=content>
<a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-gap title=column-gap>column-gap</a></span><a class=self-link href=#column-gap></a></h3>
<table class="definition propdef"><tr><th>Name:<td><dfn class=css-code data-dfn-type=property data-export="" id=propdef-column-gap>column-gap<a class=self-link href=#propdef-column-gap></a></dfn><tr><th>Value:<td class=prod><a class="production css-code" data-link-type=type href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#length-value title="<length>"><length></a> <a class=prod-punc data-link-type=grammar href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#comb-one title=|>|</a> normal<tr><th>Initial:<td>normal<tr><th>Applies to:<td><a data-link-type=dfn href=#multi-column-element title="multicol elements">multicol elements</a><tr><th>Inherited:<td>no<tr><th>Media:<td>visual<tr><th>Computed value:<td>absolute length or <a class=css data-link-type=maybe href=#valuedef-normal title=normal>normal</a><tr><th>Percentages:<td>N/A<tr><th>Animatable:<td>as <a class="production css-code" data-link-type=type href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#length-value title="<length>"><length></a></table>
<dl data-dfn-for=column-gap data-dfn-type=value>
<dt><dfn class=css-code data-dfn-for=column-gap data-dfn-type=value data-export="" id=valuedef-length><a class="production css-code" data-link-type=type href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#length-value title="<length>"><length></a><a class=self-link href=#valuedef-length></a></dfn>
<dd>
Specifies the gap between columns.
If there is a column rule between columns,
it will appear in the middle of the gap.
<p>The <a class="production css-code" data-link-type=type href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#length-value title="<length>"><length></a> cannot be negative.</p>
<dt><dfn class=css-code data-dfn-for=column-gap data-dfn-type=value data-export="" id=valuedef-normal>normal<a class=self-link href=#valuedef-normal></a></dfn>
<dd>
Identical to <a class=css-code data-link-for=column-gap data-link-type=value href=#valuedef-length title="<length>"><length></a>,
but with a UA-specified length.
A value of <span class=css data-link-type=maybe title=1em>1em</span> is suggested.
</dl>
<h3 class="heading settled heading" data-level=4.2 id=crc><span class=secno>4.2 </span><span class=content>
<a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-rule-color title=column-rule-color>column-rule-color</a></span><a class=self-link href=#crc></a></h3>
<table class="definition propdef"><tr><th>Name:<td><dfn class=css-code data-dfn-type=property data-export="" id=propdef-column-rule-color>column-rule-color<a class=self-link href=#propdef-column-rule-color></a></dfn><tr><th>Value:<td class=prod><a class="production css-code" data-link-type=type href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-color-3/#valuea-def-color title="<color>"><color></a><tr><th>Initial:<td>currentcolor<tr><th>Applies to:<td>multicol elements<tr><th>Inherited:<td>no<tr><th>Media:<td>visual<tr><th>Computed value:<td>same as the computed value of <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-color-3/#color0 title=color>color</a> is computed<tr><th>Percentages:<td>N/A<tr><th>Animatable:<td>as <a class="production css-code" data-link-type=type href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-color-3/#valuea-def-color title="<color>"><color></a></table>
<dl>
<dt><dfn class=css-code data-dfn-for=column-rule-color data-dfn-type=value data-export="" id=valuedef-color><a class="production css-code" data-link-type=type href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-color-3/#valuea-def-color title="<color>"><color></a><a class=self-link href=#valuedef-color></a></dfn>
<dd>
Specifies the color of the column rule.
</dl>
<h3 class="heading settled heading" data-level=4.3 id=crs><span class=secno>4.3 </span><span class=content>
<a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-rule-style title=column-rule-style>column-rule-style</a></span><a class=self-link href=#crs></a></h3>
<table class="definition propdef"><tr><th>Name:<td><dfn class=css-code data-dfn-type=property data-export="" id=propdef-column-rule-style>column-rule-style<a class=self-link href=#propdef-column-rule-style></a></dfn><tr><th>Value:<td class=prod><a class=production data-link-type=propdesc href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-backgrounds-3/#border-style title=border-style><‘border-style’></a><tr><th>Initial:<td>none<tr><th>Applies to:<td>multicol elements<tr><th>Inherited:<td>no<tr><th>Media:<td>visual<tr><th>Computed value:<td>specified value<tr><th>Percentages:<td>N/A<tr><th>Animatable:<td>no</table>
<p>The <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-rule-style title=column-rule-style>column-rule-style</a> property sets the style of the rule between columns of an element.
The <a class=production data-link-type=propdesc href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-backgrounds-3/#border-style title=border-style><‘border-style’></a> values are interpreted as in the <a href=http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/tables.html#collapsing-borders>collapsing border model</a>.</p>
<p>The <span class=css data-link-for=border-style data-link-type=maybe title=none>none</span> value forces the computed value of <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-rule-width title=column-rule-width>column-rule-width</a> to be <span class=css data-link-type=maybe title=0>0</span>.</p>
<h3 class="heading settled heading" data-level=4.4 id=crw><span class=secno>4.4 </span><span class=content>
<a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-rule-width title=column-rule-width>column-rule-width</a></span><a class=self-link href=#crw></a></h3>
<table class="definition propdef"><tr><th>Name:<td><dfn class=css-code data-dfn-type=property data-export="" id=propdef-column-rule-width>column-rule-width<a class=self-link href=#propdef-column-rule-width></a></dfn><tr><th>Value:<td class=prod><a class=production data-link-type=propdesc href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-backgrounds-3/#border-width title=border-width><‘border-width’></a><tr><th>Initial:<td>medium<tr><th>Applies to:<td>multicol elements<tr><th>Inherited:<td>no<tr><th>Media:<td>visual<tr><th>Computed value:<td>absolute length; <span class=css data-link-type=maybe title=0>0</span> if the column rule style is <a class=css data-link-type=maybe href=#valuedef-none title=none>none</a> or <span class=css data-link-type=maybe title=hidden>hidden</span><tr><th>Percentages:<td>N/A<tr><th>Animatable:<td>as <a class="production css-code" data-link-type=type href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#length-value title="<length>"><length></a></table>
<p>This property sets the width of the rule between columns.
Negative values are not allowed.</p>
<h3 class="heading settled heading" data-level=4.5 id=column-rule><span class=secno>4.5 </span><span class=content>
<a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-rule title=column-rule>column-rule</a></span><a class=self-link href=#column-rule></a></h3>
<table class="definition propdef"><tr><th>Name:<td><dfn class=css-code data-dfn-type=property data-export="" id=propdef-column-rule>column-rule<a class=self-link href=#propdef-column-rule></a></dfn><tr><th>Value:<td class=prod><a class=production data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-rule-width title=column-rule-width><‘column-rule-width’></a> <a class=prod-punc data-link-type=grammar href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#comb-any title=||>||</a> <a class=production data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-rule-style title=column-rule-style><‘column-rule-style’></a> <a class=prod-punc data-link-type=grammar href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#comb-any title=||>||</a> <a class=production data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-rule-color title=column-rule-color><‘column-rule-color’></a><tr><th>Initial:<td>see individual properties<tr><th>Applies to:<td>see individual properties<tr><th>Inherited:<td>see individual properties<tr><th>Media:<td>see individual properties<tr><th>Computed value:<td>see individual properties<tr><th>Percentages:<td>see individual properties<tr><th>Animatable:<td>see individual properties</table>
<p>This property is a shorthand for setting
<a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-rule-width title=column-rule-width>column-rule-width</a>, <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-rule-style title=column-rule-style>column-rule-style</a>, and <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-column-rule-color title=column-rule-color>column-rule-color</a> at
the same place in the style sheet. Omitted values are set to their
initial values.</p>
<div class=example>
In this example, the column rule and the column gap have the same
width. Therefore, they will occupy exactly the same space.
<pre>body {
column-gap: 1em;
column-rule-width: 1em;
column-rule-style: solid;
column-rule-color: black;
}
</pre>
</div>
<div class=example>
If a tall image is moved to a column on the next page to find room
for it, its natural column may be left empty. If so, the column is
still considered to have content for the purpose of deciding if the
column rule should be drawn.
</div>
<h2 class="heading settled heading" data-level=5 id=column-breaks><span class=secno>5 </span><span class=content>
Column breaks</span><a class=self-link href=#column-breaks></a></h2>
<p>When content is laid out in multiple columns, the user agent must
determine where column breaks are placed. The problem of breaking
content into columns is similar to breaking content into pages, which
is described in CSS 2.1, section 13.3.3 <a data-biblio-type=normative data-link-type=biblio href=#biblio-css21 title=biblio-CSS21>[CSS21]</a>.</p>
<p>Three new properties are introduced to allow column breaks to be
described in the same properties as page breaks: <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-break-before title=break-before>break-before</a>,
<a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-break-after title=break-after>break-after</a>, and <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-break-inside title=break-inside>break-inside</a>. These properties take the same
values as <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css2/page.html#propdef-page-break-before title=page-break-before>page-break-before</a>, <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css2/page.html#propdef-page-break-after title=page-break-after>page-break-after</a>, and
<a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css2/page.html#propdef-page-break-inside title=page-break-inside>page-break-inside</a> <a data-biblio-type=normative data-link-type=biblio href=#biblio-css21 title=biblio-CSS21>[CSS21]</a>. In addition, some new keyword values
are added.</p>
<h3 class="heading settled heading" data-level=5.1 id=break-before-break-after-break-inside><span class=secno>5.1 </span><span class=content>
<a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-break-before title=break-before>break-before</a>, <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-break-after title=break-after>break-after</a>, <a class=property data-link-type=propdesc href=#propdef-break-inside title=break-inside>break-inside</a></span><a class=self-link href=#break-before-break-after-break-inside></a></h3>
<table class="definition propdef"><tr><th>Name:<td><dfn class=css-code data-dfn-type=property data-export="" id=propdef-break-before>break-before<a class=self-link href=#propdef-break-before></a></dfn><tr><th>Value:<td class=prod>auto <a class=prod-punc data-link-type=grammar href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#comb-one title=|>|</a> always <a class=prod-punc data-link-type=grammar href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#comb-one title=|>|</a> avoid <a class=prod-punc data-link-type=grammar href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#comb-one title=|>|</a> left <a class=prod-punc data-link-type=grammar href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#comb-one title=|>|</a> right <a class=prod-punc data-link-type=grammar href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#comb-one title=|>|</a> page <a class=prod-punc data-link-type=grammar href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#comb-one title=|>|</a> column <a class=prod-punc data-link-type=grammar href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#comb-one title=|>|</a> avoid-page <a class=prod-punc data-link-type=grammar href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#comb-one title=|>|</a> avoid-column<tr><th>Initial:<td>auto<tr><th>Applies to:<td>block-level elements<tr><th>Inherited:<td>no<tr><th>Media:<td>visual<tr><th>Computed value:<td>specified value<tr><th>Percentages:<td>N/A</table>
<table class="definition propdef"><tr><th>Name:<td><dfn class=css-code data-dfn-type=property data-export="" id=propdef-break-after>break-after<a class=self-link href=#propdef-break-after></a></dfn><tr><th>Value:<td class=prod>auto <a class=prod-punc data-link-type=grammar href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#comb-one title=|>|</a> always <a class=prod-punc data-link-type=grammar href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#comb-one title=|>|</a> avoid <a class=prod-punc data-link-type=grammar href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#comb-one title=|>|</a> left <a class=prod-punc data-link-type=grammar href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#comb-one title=|>|</a> right <a class=prod-punc data-link-type=grammar href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#comb-one title=|>|</a> page <a class=prod-punc data-link-type=grammar href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#comb-one title=|>|</a> column <a class=prod-punc data-link-type=grammar href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#comb-one title=|>|</a> avoid-page <a class=prod-punc data-link-type=grammar href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#comb-one title=|>|</a> avoid-column<tr><th>Initial:<td>auto<tr><th>Applies to:<td>block-level elements<tr><th>Inherited:<td>no<tr><th>Media:<td>visual<tr><th>Computed value:<td>specified value<tr><th>Percentages:<td>N/A</table>
<table class="definition propdef"><tr><th>Name:<td><dfn class=css-code data-dfn-type=property data-export="" id=propdef-break-inside>break-inside<a class=self-link href=#propdef-break-inside></a></dfn><tr><th>Value:<td class=prod>auto <a class=prod-punc data-link-type=grammar href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#comb-one title=|>|</a> avoid <a class=prod-punc data-link-type=grammar href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#comb-one title=|>|</a> avoid-page <a class=prod-punc data-link-type=grammar href=http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css-values-3/#comb-one title=|>|</a> avoid-column<tr><th>Initial:<td>auto<tr><th>Applies to:<td>block-level elements<tr><th>Inherited:<td>no<tr><th>Media:<td>visual<tr><th>Computed value:<td>specified value<tr><th>Percentages:<td>N/A</table>
<p>These properties describe page/column break behavior before/after/inside the generated box. These values are normatively defined in <a data-biblio-type=normative data-link-type=biblio href=#biblio-css21 title=biblio-CSS21>[CSS21]</a>:</p>
<dl data-dfn-for="break-before break-after break-inside" data-dfn-type=value>
<dt><dfn class=css-code data-dfn-for="break-before break-after break-inside" data-dfn-type=value data-export="" id=valuedef-auto2>auto<a class=self-link href=#valuedef-auto2></a></dfn>
<dd>
Neither force nor forbid a page/column break before (after, inside) the generated box.
<dt><dfn class=css-code data-dfn-for="break-before break-after break-inside" data-dfn-type=value data-export="" id=valuedef-always>always<a class=self-link href=#valuedef-always></a></dfn>
<dd>
Always force a page break before (after) the generated box.
<dt><dfn class=css-code data-dfn-for="break-before break-after break-inside" data-dfn-type=value data-export="" id=valuedef-avoid>avoid<a class=self-link href=#valuedef-avoid></a></dfn>
<dd>
Avoid a page/column break before (after, inside) the generated box.
<dt><dfn class=css-code data-dfn-for="break-before break-after" data-dfn-type=value data-export="" id=valuedef-left>left<a class=self-link href=#valuedef-left></a></dfn>
<dd>
Force one or two page breaks before (after) the generated box so that the next page is formatted as a left page.
<dt><dfn class=css-code data-dfn-for="break-before break-after" data-dfn-type=value data-export="" id=valuedef-right>right<a class=self-link href=#valuedef-right></a></dfn>
<dd>
Force one or two page breaks before (after) the generated box so that the next page is formatted as a right page.
</dl>
<p>This specification adds the following new values:</p>
<dl data-dfn-for="break-before break-after break-inside" data-dfn-type=value>
<dt><dfn class=css-code data-dfn-for="break-before break-after" data-dfn-type=value data-export="" id=valuedef-page>page<a class=self-link href=#valuedef-page></a></dfn>
<dd>
Always force a page break before (after) the generated box.
<dt><dfn class=css-code data-dfn-for="break-before break-after" data-dfn-type=value data-export="" id=valuedef-column>column<a class=self-link href=#valuedef-column></a></dfn>
<dd>
Always force a column break before (after) the generated box.
<dt><dfn class=css-code data-dfn-for="break-before break-after break-inside" data-dfn-type=value data-export="" id=valuedef-avoid-page>avoid-page<a class=self-link href=#valuedef-avoid-page></a></dfn>
<dd>
Avoid a page break before (after, inside) the generated box.
<dt><dfn class=css-code data-dfn-for="break-before break-after break-inside" data-dfn-type=value data-export="" id=valuedef-avoid-column>avoid-column<a class=self-link href=#valuedef-avoid-column></a></dfn>
<dd>
Avoid a column break before (after, inside) the generated box.
</dl>
<p>When a page or column break splits a box, the box’s margins,
borders, and padding have no visual effect where the split occurs.
However, the margin immediately after a forced page/column break will
be preserved. A forced page/column break is a break that does not occur
naturally.</p>
<p class=note>Note: In the future, new properties may describe alternate
ways to handle margins, borders and padding around page/column breaks.</p>
<div class=example>
In this example, forced column breaks appear before <code>h2</code>
elements and after <code>img</code> elements:
<pre>.multicol { column-width: 8em }
.multicol h2 { break-before: column; margin-top: 2em }
.multicol img { break-after: column }
</pre>
<p>The top margin of <code>h2</code> elements will be preserved since the column break is forced.</p>
</div>
<div class=example>
In this example, the formatter will try avoid column breaks inside <code>p</code> elements:
<pre>p { break-inside: avoid-column }
</pre>
</div>