outline-style

The outline-style CSS property is used to set the style of the outline of an element. An outline is a line that is drawn around elements, outside the border edge, to make the element stand out.

It is often more convenient to use the shortcut property outline instead of outline-style, outline-width and outline-color.

/* Keyword values */
outline-style: auto;
outline-style: none;
outline-style: dotted;
outline-style: dashed;
outline-style: solid;
outline-style: double;
outline-style: groove;
outline-style: ridge;
outline-style: inset;
outline-style: outset;

/* Global values */
outline-style: inherit;
outline-style: initial;
outline-style: unset;

Syntax

Values

<br-style> can be any of the following:

none

No outline (outline-width is 0).

dotted

The outline is a series of dots.

dashed

The outline is a series of short line segments.

solid

The outline is a single line.

double

The outline is two single lines. The outline-width is the sum of the two lines and the space between them.

groove

The outline looks as though it were carved into the canvas.

ridge

The opposite of groove: the outline looks as though it were coming out of the canvas.

inset

The outline makes the box look as though it were embeded in the canvas.

outset

The opposite of inset: the outline makes the box look as though it were coming out of the canvas.

Formal syntax

auto | <br-style>
where 
<br-style> = none | hidden | dotted | dashed | solid | double | groove | ridge | inset | outset

Example 1 - dotted and dashed

HTML

<div>
  <div class="dotted">
    <p class="dashed">Outline Demo</p>
  </div>
</div> 

CSS

.dotted {
  outline-style: dotted; /* same result as "outline: dotted" */
}
.dashed {
  outline-style: dashed;
}

/* To make the Demo clearer */ 
* { outline-width: 10px; padding: 15px; } 

Example 2 - solid and double

HTML

<div>
  <div class="solid">
    <p class="double">Outline Demo</p>
  </div>
</div> 

CSS

.solid {
  outline-style: solid;
}
.double {
  outline-style: double;
}

/* To make the Demo clearer */ 
* { outline-width: 10px; padding: 15px; } 

Example 3 - groove and ridge

HTML

<div>
  <div class="groove">
    <p class="ridge">Outline Demo</p>
  </div>
</div>

CSS

.groove {
  outline-style: groove;
}
.ridge {
  outline-style: ridge;
}

/* To make the Demo clearer */ 
* { outline-width: 10px; padding: 15px; }

Example 4 - inset and outset

HTML

<div>
  <div class="inset">
    <p class="outset">Outline Demo</p>
  </div>
</div>

CSS

.inset {
  outline-style: inset;
}
.outset {
  outline-style: outset;
}

/* To make the Demo clearer */ 
* { outline-width: 10px; padding: 15px; }

Specifications

Browser compatibility

[1] In browsers prior to Gecko 1.8 (Firefox 1.5) this effect can be achieved using Mozilla CSS Extension -moz-outline-style.