column-count

The column-count CSS property breaks an element's content into the specified number of columns.

Syntax

/* Keyword value */
column-count: auto;

/* <integer> value */
column-count: 3;

/* Global values */
column-count: inherit;
column-count: initial;
column-count: revert;
column-count: unset;

Values

auto

The number of columns is determined by other CSS properties, such as column-width.

<integer>

Is a strictly positive <integer> describing the ideal number of columns into which the content of the element will be flowed. If the column-width is also set to a non-auto value, it merely indicates the maximum allowed number of columns.

Formal definition

Initial valueauto
Applies toBlock containers except table wrapper boxes
Inheritedno
Computed valueas specified
Animation typean integer

Formal syntax

<integer> | auto

Examples

Splitting a paragraph across three columns

HTML

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

CSS

.content-box {
  column-count: 3;
}

Result

Specifications

Specification
CSS Multi-column Layout Module Level 2 (CSS Multicol 2)
# cc

Browser compatibility

BCD tables only load in the browser

See also