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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN"
"http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd">

<html lang=en>
 <head>
  <title>CSS Multi-column Layout Module</title>
  <link href=default.css rel=stylesheet type="text/css">
  <link href="http://www.w3.org/StyleSheets/TR/W3C-CR.css" rel=stylesheet
  type="text/css">

  <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>

 <body>
  <div class=head> <!--begin-logo-->
   <p><a href="http://www.w3.org/"><img alt=W3C height=48
    src="http://www.w3.org/Icons/w3c_home" width=72></a> <!--end-logo-->

   <h1>CSS Multi-column Layout Module</h1>

   <h2 class="no-num no-toc" id=w3c-working>W3C Candidate Recommendation 12
    April 2011</h2>

   <dl>
    <dt>This version:

    <dd> <a
     href="http://www.w3.org/TR/2011/CR-css3-multicol-20110412">http://www.w3.org/TR/2011/CR-css3-multicol-20110412</a>
     <!--<a href="http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css3-multicol/">http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css3-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 version:

    <dd><a
     href="http://www.w3.org/TR/2009/CR-css3-multicol-20091217">http://www.w3.org/TR/2009/CR-css3-multicol-20091217</a>


    <dt>Editors:

    <dd>H&aring;kon Wium Lie, Opera Software, howcome@opera.com
   </dl>
   <!--begin-copyright-->
   <p class=copyright><a
    href="http://www.w3.org/Consortium/Legal/ipr-notice#Copyright"
    rel=license>Copyright</a> &copy; 2011 <a
    href="http://www.w3.org/"><acronym title="World Wide Web
    Consortium">W3C</acronym></a><sup>&reg;</sup> (<a
    href="http://www.csail.mit.edu/"><acronym title="Massachusetts Institute
    of Technology">MIT</acronym></a>, <a href="http://www.ercim.eu/"><acronym
    title="European Research Consortium for Informatics and
    Mathematics">ERCIM</acronym></a>, <a
    href="http://www.keio.ac.jp/">Keio</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_Trademarks">trademark</a>
    and <a
    href="http://www.w3.org/Consortium/Legal/copyright-documents">document
    use</a> rules apply.</p>
   <!--end-copyright-->
   <hr title="Separator for header">
  </div>

  <h2 class="no-num no-toc" id=abstract>Abstract</h2>

  <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.

  <h2 class="no-num no-toc" id=status-of-this-document>Status of this
   document</h2>
  <!--begin-status-->

  <p><em>This section describes the status of this document at the time of
   its publication. Other documents may supersede this document. A list of
   current W3C publications and the latest revision of this technical report
   can be found in the <a href="http://www.w3.org/TR/">W3C technical reports
   index at http://www.w3.org/TR/.</a></em>

  <p>This document was produced by the <a
   href="http://www.w3.org/Style/CSS/members">CSS Working Group</a> as a <a
   href="http://www.w3.org/Consortium/Process/tr#RecsCR">Candidate
   Recommendation.</a>

  <p>A Candidate Recommendation is a document that has been widely reviewed
   and is ready for implementation. W3C encourages everybody to implement
   this specification and return comments to the (<a
   href="http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/www-style/">archived</a>) public
   mailing list <a
   href="mailto:www-style@w3.org?Subject=%5Bcss3-multicol%5D%20PUT%20SUBJECT%20HERE">
   www-style@w3.org</a> (see <a
   href="http://www.w3.org/Mail/Request">instructions</a>). When sending
   e-mail, please put the text &#8220;css3-multicol&#8221; in the subject,
   preferably like this: &#8220;[<!---->css3-multicol<!---->]
   <em>&hellip;summary of comment&hellip;</em>&#8221;

  <p>Publication as a Candidate Recommendation does not imply endorsement by
   the W3C Membership. This is a draft document and may be updated, replaced
   or obsoleted by other documents at any time. It is inappropriate to cite
   this document as other than work in progress.

  <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>.</p>
  <!--end-status-->

  <p>This document has been a Working Draft in the CSS Working Group for
   several years. Multi-column layouts are traditionally used in print. On
   screen, multi-column layouts have been considered experimental, and
   implementation and use experience was deemed necessary in order to
   proceed. Several implementations have occurred over the past years, and
   this specification incorporates useful feedback from implementors as well
   as authors and users.

  <p>The specification was updated in April 2011 to correct a contradiction
   between the text and the pseudo-algorithm in section&nbsp;3.4. The
   pseudo-algorithm was corrected and also made easier to read. The wording
   of a few other sections was improved in places, without changes to the
   functionality.

  <p>This document will remain Candidate Recommendation at least until 12 May
   2011. See the <a href="#cr-exit-criteria">CR exit criteria.</a>

  <h2 class="no-num no-toc" id=table-of-contents><a name=contents>Table of
   contents</a></h2>
  <!--begin-toc-->

  <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>&lsquo;<code
      class=property>column-width</code>&rsquo;</a>

     <li><a href="#cc"><span class=secno>3.2. </span>&lsquo;<code
      class=property>column-count</code>&rsquo;</a>

     <li><a href="#columns"><span class=secno>3.3. </span>&lsquo;<code
      class=property>columns</code>&rsquo;</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>&lsquo;<code
      class=property>column-gap</code>&rsquo;</a>

     <li><a href="#crc"><span class=secno>4.2. </span>&lsquo;<code
      class=property>column-rule-color</code>&rsquo;</a>

     <li><a href="#crs"><span class=secno>4.3. </span>&lsquo;<code
      class=property>column-rule-style</code>&rsquo;</a>

     <li><a href="#crw"><span class=secno>4.4. </span>&lsquo;<code
      class=property>column-rule-width</code>&rsquo;</a>

     <li><a href="#column-rule"><span class=secno>4.5. </span>&lsquo;<code
      class=property>column-rule</code>&rsquo;</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>&lsquo;<code
      class=property>break-before</code>&rsquo;, &lsquo;<code
      class=property>break-after</code>&rsquo;, &lsquo;<code
      class=property>break-inside</code>&rsquo;</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>&lsquo;<code
      class=property>column-span</code>&rsquo;</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>&lsquo;<code
      class=property>column-fill</code>&rsquo;</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="#conformance"><span class=secno>9. </span>Conformance</a>
    <ul class=toc>
     <li><a href="#cr-exit-criteria"><span class=secno>9.1. </span>CR exit
      criteria</a>
    </ul>

   <li class=no-num><a href="#acknowledgments">Acknowledgments</a>

   <li class=no-num><a href="#references">References</a>
    <ul class=toc>
     <li class=no-num><a href="#normative-references">Normative
      references</a>

     <li class=no-num><a href="#other-references">Other references</a>
    </ul>

   <li class=no-num><a href="#index">Index</a>

   <li class=no-num><a href="#property-index">Property index</a>
  </ul>
  <!--end-toc-->

  <h2 id=introduction><span class=secno>1. </span>Introduction</h2>

  <p>(This section is not normative.)

  <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>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>Multi-column layouts are easy to describe in CSS. Here is a simple
   example:

  <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 &lsquo;<code class=css>12em</code>&rsquo; wide. The
    exact number of columns will depend on the available space.
  </div>

  <p>The number of columns can also be set explicitly in the style sheet:

  <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.
  </div>

  <p>The shorthand &lsquo;<a href="#columns0"><code
   class=property>columns</code></a>&rsquo; property can be used to set
   either, or both, properties in one declaration.

  <div class=example>
   <p>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.
  </div>

  <p>Another group of properties introduced in this module describe gaps and
   rules between columns.

  <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
    &lsquo;<a href="#column-rule0"><code
    class=property>column-rule</code></a>&rsquo; property.
  </div>

  <p>The values of the &lsquo;<a href="#column-rule0"><code
   class=property>column-rule</code></a>&rsquo; property are similar to those
   of the CSS border properties. Like &lsquo;<code
   class=property>border</code>&rsquo;, &lsquo;<a href="#column-rule0"><code
   class=property>column-rule</code></a>&rsquo; is a shorthand property.

  <div class=example>
   <p>In this example, the shorthand &lsquo;<a href="#column-rule0"><code
    class=property>column-rule</code></a>&rsquo; 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 &lsquo;<a href="#column-fill"><code
   class=property>column-fill</code></a>&rsquo; and &lsquo;<a
   href="#column-span0"><code class=property>column-span</code></a>&rsquo;
   properties give style sheets a wider range of visual expressions in
   multi-column layouts.

  <div class=example>
   <p>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>To indicate where column breaks should (or should not) appear, new
   keyword values are introduced.

  <div class=example>
   <p>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>
   <!--<p>The properties and values used in this example are formally defined in [!CSS3PAGE]].-->
   </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.

  <h2 id=the-multi-column-model><span class=secno>2. </span>The multi-column
   model</h2>

  <p>A <dfn id=multi-column-element>multi-column element</dfn> (or
   <em>multicol element</em> for short) is an element whose &lsquo;<a
   href="#column-width"><code class=property>column-width</code></a>&rsquo;
   or &lsquo;<a href="#column-count"><code
   class=property>column-count</code></a>&rsquo; property is not &lsquo;<code
   class=css>auto</code>&rsquo; and therefore acts as a container for
   multi-column layout.

  <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 id=column-box>column box</dfn> (or
   <em>column</em> for short). The content of a multicol element is flowed
   into its column boxes.

  <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>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. 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. The same effect occurs when a <a
   href="#spanning-element"><em>spanning element</em></a> 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>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.

  <p class=note>Future specifications may add additional functionality. For
   example, columns of different widths and different backgrounds may be
   supported.

  <div class=example>
   <p>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="">
     <p> 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. A bc<br>
      def g hij klm nopqrs
    </div>

    <div class=col style="left: 175px">
     <p> 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>
      x yz. Abc def ghi jkl.<br>
    </div>

    <div class=col style="left: 350px">
     <p> 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>
      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>

   <p>To illustrate the effects of the various properties described in this
    specification, variations on a sample document will be used. Here is the
    source code of the sample document:

   <pre class=html>
&lt;html>
&lt;style type="text/css">
div {
  column-width: 15em;
  column-gap: 2em;   /* shown in yellow */
  column-rule: 4px solid green;
  padding: 5px;      /* shown in blue */
}
p { margin: 0; padding: 0 }
img { display: none }
&lt;/style>
&lt;body>
&lt;div>
&lt;p&gt;Ab cde fgh i jkl. Mno
pqr stu vw xyz. A bc
&lt;img src=...>
def g hij
...
&lt;/div>
&lt;/body>
&lt;/html>
</pre>

   <p>The nonsensical text in the example is the English alphabet which shows
    how text flows from one column to another. To simplify the visualization,
    the textual content of the different examples vary slightly.
  </div>

  <p>Column boxes act as the containing block for their content. 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 href="#CSS21"
   rel=biblioentry>[CSS21]<!--{{!CSS21}}--></a>. However, column boxes do not
   establish containing blocks for elements with &lsquo;<code
   class=css>position: fixed</code>&rsquo; or &lsquo;<code
   class=css>position: absolute</code>&rsquo;.
   <!--Percentage values that are calculated
relative to the containing block height are calculated based on the
multicol element's height, not the column box's height.-->


  <div class=example>
   <p>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:

   <div class=cols>
    <p>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">
     <p>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">
     <p> 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.

  <div class=example>
   <p>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="">
     <p> 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">
     <p> 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">
     <p> 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.
  </div>

  <p>A multi-column element establishes a new block formatting context, as
   per CSS 2.1 section 9.4.1.

  <div class=example>
   <p>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.

  <h2 id=the-number-and-width-of-columns><span class=secno>3. </span>The
   number and width of columns</h2>

  <p>Finding the number and width of columns is fundamental when laying out
   multi-column content. When the block direction is unconstrained and no
   column breaks are added through style sheets, these two properties
   determine the outcome:

  <ul>
   <li>&lsquo;<a href="#column-count"><code
    class=property>column-count</code></a>&rsquo;

   <li>&lsquo;<a href="#column-width"><code
    class=property>column-width</code></a>&rsquo;
  </ul>

  <p>A third property, &lsquo;<a href="#columns0"><code
   class=property>columns</code></a>&rsquo;, is a shorthand property which
   sets both &lsquo;<a href="#column-width"><code
   class=property>column-width</code></a>&rsquo; and &lsquo;<a
   href="#column-count"><code class=property>column-count</code></a>&rsquo;.

  <h3 id=cw><span class=secno>3.1. </span>&lsquo;<a
   href="#column-width"><code class=property>column-width</code></a>&rsquo;</h3>

  <table class=propdef>
   <tbody>
    <tr>
     <td><em>Name:</em>

     <td><dfn id=column-width>column-width</dfn>

    <tr>
     <td><em>Value:</em>

     <td>&lt;length&gt; | auto

    <tr>
     <td><em>Initial:</em>

     <td>auto

    <tr>
     <td><em>Applies to:</em>

     <td>non-replaced block-level elements (except table elements), table
      cells, and inline-block elements

    <tr>
     <td><em>Inherited:</em>

     <td>no

    <tr>
     <td><em>Percentages:</em>

     <td>N/A

    <tr>
     <td><em>Media:</em>

     <td>visual

    <tr>
     <td><em>Computed&nbsp;value:</em>

     <td>the absolute length, zero or larger
  </table>

  <p>This property describes the width of columns in multicol elements.

  <dl>
   <dt>auto

   <dd>means that the column width will be determined by other properties
    (e.g., &lsquo;<a href="#column-count"><code
    class=property>column-count</code></a>&rsquo;, if it has a non-auto
    value).

   <dt>&lt;length>

   <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>
   <p>For example, consider this style sheet:</p>

   <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>
   <p>Also, consider this style sheet:</p>

   <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 &lsquo;<a href="#column-width"><code
   class=property>column-width</code></a>&rsquo; can be used with vertical
   text, column width means the length of the line boxes inside the columns.

  <p class=note>The reason for making &lsquo;<a href="#column-width"><code
   class=property>column-width</code></a>&rsquo; somewhat flexible is to
   achieve scalable designs that can fit many screen sizes. To set an exact
   column width, all length values (in horizontal text these are:
   &lsquo;<code class=property>width</code>&rsquo;, &lsquo;<a
   href="#column-width"><code class=property>column-width</code></a>&rsquo;,
   &lsquo;<a href="#column-gap0"><code
   class=property>column-gap</code></a>&rsquo;, and &lsquo;<a
   href="#column-rule-width"><code
   class=property>column-rule-width</code></a>&rsquo;) must be specified.

  <h3 id=cc><span class=secno>3.2. </span>&lsquo;<a
   href="#column-count"><code class=property>column-count</code></a>&rsquo;</h3>

  <table class=propdef>
   <tbody>
    <tr>
     <td><em>Name:</em>

     <td><dfn id=column-count>column-count</dfn>

    <tr>
     <td><em>Value:</em>

     <td>&lt;integer&gt; | auto

    <tr>
     <td><em>Initial:</em>

     <td>auto

    <tr>
     <td><em>Applies to:</em>

     <td>non-replaced block-level elements (except table elements), table
      cells, and inline-block elements

    <tr>
     <td><em>Inherited:</em>

     <td>no

    <tr>
     <td><em>Percentages:</em>

     <td>N/A

    <tr>
     <td><em>Media:</em>

     <td>visual

    <tr>
     <td><em>Computed&nbsp;value:</em>

     <td>specified value
  </table>

  <p>This property describes the number of columns of a multicol element.

  <dl>
   <dt>auto

   <dd>means that the number of columns will be determined by other
    properties (e.g., &lsquo;<a href="#column-width"><code
    class=property>column-width</code></a>&rsquo;, if it has a non-auto
    value).

   <dt>&lt;integer>

   <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 &lsquo;<a
    href="#column-width"><code class=property>column-width</code></a>&rsquo;
    and &lsquo;<a href="#column-count"><code
    class=property>column-count</code></a>&rsquo; have non-auto values, the
    integer value describes the maximum number of columns.
  </dl>

  <div class=example>
   <p>Example:</p>

   <pre>body { column-count: 3 }</pre>
  </div>

  <h3 id=columns><span class=secno>3.3. </span>&lsquo;<a
   href="#columns0"><code class=property>columns</code></a>&rsquo;</h3>

  <table class=propdef>
   <tbody>
    <tr>
     <td><em>Name:</em>

     <td><dfn id=columns0>columns</dfn>

    <tr>
     <td><em>Value:</em>

     <td><a href="#cw">&lt;&lsquo;<code
      class=property>column-width</code>&rsquo;></a> || <a
      href="#cc">&lt;&lsquo;<code
      class=property>column-count</code>&rsquo;></a>

    <tr>
     <td><em>Initial:</em>

     <td>see individual properties

    <tr>
     <td><em>Applies to:</em>

     <td>non-replaced block-level elements (except table elements), table
      cells, and inline-block elements

    <tr>
     <td><em>Inherited:</em>

     <td>no

    <tr>
     <td><em>Percentages:</em>

     <td>N/A

    <tr>
     <td><em>Media:</em>

     <td>visual

    <tr>
     <td><em>Computed&nbsp;value:</em>

     <td>see individual properties
  </table>

  <p>This is a shorthand property for setting &lsquo;<a
   href="#column-width"><code class=property>column-width</code></a>&rsquo;
   and &lsquo;<a href="#column-count"><code
   class=property>column-count</code></a>&rsquo;. Omitted values are set to
   their initial values.

  <div class=example>
   <p>Here are some valid declarations using the &lsquo;<a
    href="#columns0"><code class=property>columns</code></a>&rsquo; 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 id=pseudo-algorithm><span class=secno>3.4. </span>Pseudo-algorithm</h3>

  <p>The pseudo-algorithm below determines the used values for &lsquo;<a
   href="#column-count"><code class=property>column-count</code></a>&rsquo;
   (N) and &lsquo;<a href="#column-width"><code
   class=property>column-width</code></a>&rsquo; (W). There are two other
   variables in the pseudo-algorithm:

  <ul>
   <li><code>available-width</code>: if the used width of the multi-column
    element has not been determined when the &lsquo;<a
    href="#column-count"><code class=property>column-count</code></a>&rsquo;
    and &lsquo;<a href="#column-width"><code
    class=property>column-width</code></a>&rsquo; must be determined (e.g.,
    if it is floating with a &lsquo;<code class=property>width</code>&rsquo;
    of &lsquo;<code class=property>auto</code>&rsquo; as per CSS 2.1 section
    10.3.5) this variable is <code>unknown</code>, otherwise it is the same
    as the used width of the multi-column element. In vertical text, the used
    height replaces used width in this calculation.

   <li><code>shrink-to-fit</code>: this variable represents the result of a
    <em>shrink-to-fit</em> computation. CSS does not define the exact
    algorithm.
  </ul>

  <p>Two assumptions are being made by the pseudo-algorithm:

  <ul>
   <li>that the block direction is unconstrained

   <li>that no column breaks are added through style sheets
  </ul>

  <p>The <code>floor()</code> function rounds a number to the next smaller
   integer. <!--
<pre>
(01)  if ((column-width = auto) and (column-count = auto)) or
(02)     ((available-width = unknown) and (column-count = auto)) then
(03)    exit; /* no columns */
(04)  fi
(05)
(06)  if (available-width = unknown) and (column-count != auto) and (column-width != auto) then
(07)    N := column-count;
(08)    W := column-width;
(09)    exit;
(10)  fi
(11)
(12)  if (available-width = unknown) then
(13)    available-width := shrink-to-fit;
(14)  fi
(15)
(16)  if (column-width = auto) then
(18)    N := column-count;
(19)    W := max(0, (available-width - ((N - 1) * column-gap))/N);
(27)  elsif (column-count = auto) then
(28)    if (column-width >= available-width) then
(29)      N := 1
(30)      W := available-width;
(31)    else
(32)      N := floor((available-width + column-gap) / (column-width + column-gap));
(33)      W := ((available-width + column-gap) / N) - column-gap;
(34)    fi
(35)  elsif (column-width >= available-width) then
(36)    N := 1
(37)    W := available-width;
(38)  else
(39)    N := min(column-count, floor((available-width + column-gap) / (column-width + column-gap)))
(40)    W := ((available-width + column-gap) / N) - column-gap;
(41)  fi
</pre>

<p><span class=issue>Alternative encoding of pseudo-algorithm:
-->


  <pre>
(01)  if ((column-width = auto) and (column-count = auto)) then
(02)        exit; /* not a multicol element */

(03)  if ((available-width = unknown) and (column-count = auto)) then
(04)    exit; /* no columns */

(05)  if (available-width = unknown) and (column-count != auto) and (column-width != auto) then
(06)    N := column-count;
(07)    W := column-width;
(08)  exit;

(09)  if (available-width = unknown) then
(10)    available-width := shrink-to-fit;

(11)  if (column-width = auto) and (column-count != auto) then
(12)    N := column-count;
(13)    W := max(0, (available-width - ((N - 1) * column-gap)) / N);
(14)  exit;

(15)  if (column-width != auto) and (column-count = auto) then
(16)    N := max(1, floor((available-width + column-gap) / (column-width + column-gap)));
(17)    W := ((available-width + column-gap) / N) - column-gap;
(18)  exit;

(19)  if (column-width != auto) and (column-count != auto) then
(20)    N := min(column-count, floor((available-width + column-gap) / (column-width + column-gap)))
(21)    W := ((available-width + column-gap) / N) - column-gap;
(22)  exit
</pre>

  <p>In paged media, user agents may perform this calculation on a per-page
   basis.

  <p class=note>Note that, in most cases, only one of &lsquo;<a
   href="#column-width"><code class=property>column-width</code></a>&rsquo;
   and &lsquo;<a href="#column-count"><code
   class=property>column-count</code></a>&rsquo; affect the layout. If
   &lsquo;<a href="#column-width"><code
   class=property>column-width</code></a>&rsquo; has a value other than
   &lsquo;<code class=css>auto</code>&rsquo;, &lsquo;<a
   href="#column-count"><code class=property>column-count</code></a>&rsquo;
   indicates the maximum number of columns. However, both &lsquo;<a
   href="#column-width"><code class=property>column-width</code></a>&rsquo;
   and &lsquo;<a href="#column-count"><code
   class=property>column-count</code></a>&rsquo; are honored when the width
   of the element has not been determined. This can, e.g., be the case for
   table cells and floats.

  <h3 id=stacking-context><span class=secno>3.5. </span>Stacking context</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.

  <h2 id=column-gaps-and-rules><span class=secno>4. </span>Column gaps and
   rules</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
   length of the columns. Column gaps take up space. That is, column gaps
   will push apart content in adjacent columns (within the same multicol
   element).

  <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 column rule will overlap adjacent column boxes, and
   possibly extend outside the box of the multicol element. Column rules are
   painted just above the background of the multicol element. This allows
   child elements with &lsquo;<code class=property>z-index</code>&rsquo;
   values to be on top of column rules. Column rules are only drawn between
   two columns that both have content.

  <h3 id=column-gap><span class=secno>4.1. </span>&lsquo;<a
   href="#column-gap0"><code class=property>column-gap</code></a>&rsquo;</h3>

  <table class=propdef>
   <tbody>
    <tr>
     <td><em>Name:</em>

     <td><dfn id=column-gap0>column-gap</dfn>

    <tr>
     <td><em>Value:</em>

     <td>&lt;length&gt; | normal

    <tr>
     <td><em>Initial:</em>

     <td>normal

    <tr>
     <td><em>Applies to:</em>

     <td>multicol elements

    <tr>
     <td><em>Inherited:</em>

     <td>no

    <tr>
     <td><em>Percentages:</em>

     <td>N/A

    <tr>
     <td><em>Media:</em>

     <td>visual

    <tr>
     <td><em>Computed&nbsp;value:</em>

     <td>absolute length or &lsquo;<code class=property>normal</code>&rsquo;
  </table>

  <p>The &lsquo;<a href="#column-gap0"><code
   class=property>column-gap</code></a>&rsquo; property sets the gap between
   columns. If there is a column rule between columns, it will appear in the
   middle of the gap.

  <p>The &lsquo;<code class=css>normal</code>&rsquo; value is UA-specific. A
   value of &lsquo;<code class=css>1em</code>&rsquo; is suggested.

  <p>Column gaps cannot be negative.

  <h3 id=crc><span class=secno>4.2. </span>&lsquo;<a
   href="#column-rule-color"><code
   class=property>column-rule-color</code></a>&rsquo;</h3>

  <table class=propdef>
   <tbody>
    <tr>
     <td><em>Name:</em>

     <td><dfn id=column-rule-color>column-rule-color</dfn>

    <tr>
     <td><em>Value:</em>

     <td>&lt;color&gt;

    <tr>
     <td><em>Initial:</em>

     <td>same as for &lsquo;<code class=property>color</code>&rsquo; property
      <a href="#CSS21" rel=biblioentry>[CSS21]<!--{{!CSS21}}--></a>

    <tr>
     <td><em>Applies to:</em>

     <td>multicol elements

    <tr>
     <td><em>Inherited:</em>

     <td>no

    <tr>
     <td><em>Percentages:</em>

     <td>N/A

    <tr>
     <td><em>Media:</em>

     <td>visual

    <tr>
     <td><em>Computed&nbsp;value:</em>

     <td>the same as the computed value for the &lsquo;<code
      class=property>color</code>&rsquo; property <a href="#CSS21"
      rel=biblioentry>[CSS21]<!--{{!CSS21}}--></a>
  </table>

  <p>This property sets the color of the column rule. The &lt;color&gt;
   values are defined in <a href="#CSS21"
   rel=biblioentry>[CSS21]<!--{{!CSS21}}--></a>.

  <h3 id=crs><span class=secno>4.3. </span>&lsquo;<a
   href="#column-rule-style"><code
   class=property>column-rule-style</code></a>&rsquo;</h3>

  <table class=propdef>
   <tbody>
    <tr>
     <td><em>Name:</em>

     <td><dfn id=column-rule-style>column-rule-style</dfn>

    <tr>
     <td><em>Value:</em>

     <td><a
      href="http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/tables.html#table-border-styles">&lt;border-style&gt;</a>
      <!--http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS21/box.html#value-def-border-style-->

    <tr>
     <td><em>Initial:</em>

     <td>none

    <tr>
     <td><em>Applies to:</em>

     <td>multicol elements

    <tr>
     <td><em>Inherited:</em>

     <td>no

    <tr>
     <td><em>Percentages:</em>

     <td>N/A

    <tr>
     <td><em>Media:</em>

     <td>visual

    <tr>
     <td><em>Computed&nbsp;value:</em>

     <td>specified value
  </table>

  <p>The &lsquo;<a href="#column-rule-style"><code
   class=property>column-rule-style</code></a>&rsquo; property sets the style
   of the rule between columns of an element. The &lt;border-style&gt; values
   are defined in <a href="#CSS21"
   rel=biblioentry>[CSS21]<!--{{!CSS21}}--></a> and the values are
   interpreted as in the <a
   href="http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/tables.html#collapsing-borders">the
   collapsing border model</a>.

  <p>The &lsquo;<code class=property>none</code>&rsquo; value forces the
   computed value of <span class=property>&lsquo;<a
   href="#column-rule-width"><code
   class=property>column-rule-width</code></a>&rsquo;</span> to be
   &lsquo;<code class=css>0</code>&rsquo;.

  <h3 id=crw><span class=secno>4.4. </span>&lsquo;<a
   href="#column-rule-width"><code
   class=property>column-rule-width</code></a>&rsquo;</h3>

  <table class=propdef>
   <tbody>
    <tr>
     <td><em>Name:</em>

     <td><dfn id=column-rule-width>column-rule-width</dfn>

    <tr>
     <td><em>Value:</em>

     <td><a
      href="http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS21/box.html#value-def-border-width">&lt;border-width&gt;</a>


    <tr>
     <td><em>Initial:</em>

     <td>medium

    <tr>
     <td><em>Applies to:</em>

     <td>multicol elements

    <tr>
     <td><em>Inherited:</em>

     <td>no

    <tr>
     <td><em>Percentages:</em>

     <td>N/A

    <tr>
     <td><em>Media:</em>

     <td>visual

    <tr>
     <td><em>Computed&nbsp;value:</em>

     <td>absolute length; &lsquo;<code class=css>0</code>&rsquo; if the
      column rule style is &lsquo;<code class=property>none</code>&rsquo; or
      &lsquo;<code class=property>hidden</code>&rsquo;
  </table>

  <p>This property sets the width of the rule between columns. Negative
   values are not allowed.

  <h3 id=column-rule><span class=secno>4.5. </span>&lsquo;<a
   href="#column-rule0"><code class=property>column-rule</code></a>&rsquo;</h3>

  <table class=propdef>
   <tbody>
    <tr>
     <td><em>Name:</em>

     <td><dfn id=column-rule0>column-rule</dfn>

    <tr>
     <td><em>Value:</em>

     <td><a href="#crw">&lt;&lsquo;<code
      class=property>column-rule-width</code>&rsquo;&gt;</a> || <a
      href="#crs">&lt;&lsquo;<code
      class=property>column-rule-style</code>&rsquo;&gt;</a> || [ <a
      href="#crc">&lt;&lsquo;<code
      class=property>column-rule-color</code>&rsquo;&gt;</a> | transparent ]

    <tr>
     <td><em>Initial:</em>

     <td>see individual properties

    <tr>
     <td><em>Applies to:</em>

     <td>multicol elements

    <tr>
     <td><em>Inherited:</em>

     <td>no

    <tr>
     <td><em>Percentages:</em>

     <td>N/A

    <tr>
     <td><em>Media:</em>

     <td>visual

    <tr>
     <td><em>Computed&nbsp;value:</em>

     <td>see individual properties
  </table>

  <p>This property is a shorthand for setting &lsquo;<a
   href="#column-rule-width"><code
   class=property>column-rule-width</code></a>&rsquo;, &lsquo;<a
   href="#column-rule-style"><code
   class=property>column-rule-style</code></a>&rsquo;, and &lsquo;<a
   href="#column-rule-color"><code
   class=property>column-rule-color</code></a>&rsquo; at the same place in
   the style sheet. Omitted values are set to their initial values.

  <div class=example>
   <p>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>
   <p>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 is still
    considered to have content for the purpose of deciding if the column rule
    should be drawn.
  </div>

  <h2 id=column-breaks><span class=secno>5. </span>Column breaks</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.

  <p>Three new properties are introduced to allow column breaks to be
   described in the same properties as page breaks: &lsquo;<a
   href="#break-before"><code class=property>break-before</code></a>&rsquo;,
   &lsquo;<a href="#break-after"><code
   class=property>break-after</code></a>&rsquo;, and &lsquo;<a
   href="#break-inside"><code class=property>break-inside</code></a>&rsquo;.
   These properties take the same values as &lsquo;<code
   class=property>page-break-before</code>&rsquo;, &lsquo;<code
   class=property>page-break-after</code>&rsquo;, and &lsquo;<code
   class=property>page-break-inside</code>&rsquo; <a href="#CSS21"
   rel=biblioentry>[CSS21]<!--{{!CSS21}}--></a>. In addition, some new
   keyword values are added.

  <h3 id=break-before-break-after-break-inside><span class=secno>5.1.
   </span>&lsquo;<a href="#break-before"><code
   class=property>break-before</code></a>&rsquo;, &lsquo;<a
   href="#break-after"><code class=property>break-after</code></a>&rsquo;,
   &lsquo;<a href="#break-inside"><code
   class=property>break-inside</code></a>&rsquo;</h3>

  <table class=propdef>
   <tbody>
    <tr>
     <td><em>Name:</em>

     <td><dfn id=break-before>break-before</dfn>

    <tr>
     <td><em>Value:</em>

     <td>auto | always | avoid | left | right | page | column | avoid-page |
      avoid-column

    <tr>
     <td><em>Initial:</em>

     <td>auto

    <tr>
     <td><em>Applies to:</em>

     <td>block-level elements

    <tr>
     <td><em>Inherited:</em>

     <td>no

    <tr>
     <td><em>Percentages:</em>

     <td>N/A

    <tr>
     <td><em>Media:</em>

     <td>paged

    <tr>
     <td><em>Computed&nbsp;value:</em>

     <td>specified value
  </table>

  <table class=propdef>
   <tbody>
    <tr>
     <td><em>Name:</em>

     <td><dfn id=break-after>break-after</dfn>

    <tr>
     <td><em>Value:</em>

     <td>auto | always | avoid | left | right | page | column | avoid-page |
      avoid-column

    <tr>
     <td><em>Initial:</em>

     <td>auto

    <tr>
     <td><em>Applies to:</em>

     <td>block-level elements

    <tr>
     <td><em>Inherited:</em>

     <td>no

    <tr>
     <td><em>Percentages:</em>

     <td>N/A

    <tr>
     <td><em>Media:</em>

     <td>paged

    <tr>
     <td><em>Computed&nbsp;value:</em>

     <td>specified value
  </table>

  <table class=propdef>
   <tbody>
    <tr>
     <td><em>Name:</em>

     <td><dfn id=break-inside>break-inside</dfn>

    <tr>
     <td><em>Value:</em>

     <td>auto | avoid | avoid-page | avoid-column

    <tr>
     <td><em>Initial:</em>

     <td>auto

    <tr>
     <td><em>Applies to:</em>

     <td>block-level elements

    <tr>
     <td><em>Inherited:</em>

     <td>no

    <tr>
     <td><em>Percentages:</em>

     <td>N/A

    <tr>
     <td><em>Media:</em>

     <td>paged

    <tr>
     <td><em>Computed&nbsp;value:</em>

     <td>specified value
  </table>

  <p>These properties describe page/column break behavior before/after/inside
   the generated box. These values are normatively defined in <a
   href="#CSS21" rel=biblioentry>[CSS21]<!--{{!CSS21}}--></a>:

  <dl>
   <dt>auto

   <dd>Neither force nor forbid a page/column break before (after, inside)
    the generated box.

   <dt>always

   <dd>Always force a page break before (after) the generated box.

   <dt>avoid

   <dd>Avoid a page/column break before (after, inside) the generated box.

   <dt>left

   <dd>Force one or two page breaks before (after) the generated box so that
    the next page is formatted as a left page.

   <dt>right

   <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:

  <dl>
   <dt>page

   <dd>Always force a page break before (after) the generated box.

   <dt>column

   <dd>Always force a column break before (after) the generated box.

   <dt>avoid-page

   <dd>Avoid a page break before (after, inside) the generated box.

   <dt>avoid-column

   <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 class=note>In the future, new properties may describe alternate ways to
   handle margins, borders and padding around page/column breaks.

  <div class=example>
   <p>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.
  </div>

  <div class=example>
   <p>In this example, the formatter will try avoid column breaks inside
    <code>p</code> elements:

   <pre>
p { break-inside: avoid-column }
</pre>
  </div>

  <h2 id=spanning-columns><span class=secno>6. </span>Spanning columns</h2>

  <p>The &lsquo;<a href="#column-span0"><code
   class=property>column-span</code></a>&rsquo; property makes it possible
   for an element to span across several columns.

  <h3 id=column-span><span class=secno>6.1. </span>&lsquo;<a
   href="#column-span0"><code class=property>column-span</code></a>&rsquo;</h3>

  <table class=propdef>
   <tbody>
    <tr>
     <td><em>Name:</em>

     <td><dfn id=column-span0>column-span</dfn>

    <tr>
     <td><em>Value:</em>

     <td>none | all

    <tr>
     <td><em>Initial:</em>

     <td>none

    <tr>
     <td><em>Applies to:</em> <!--
      <td>static, non-floating elements,
-->


     <td>block-level elements, except floating and absolutely positioned
      elements

    <tr>
     <td><em>Inherited:</em>

     <td>no

    <tr>
     <td><em>Percentages:</em>

     <td>N/A

    <tr>
     <td><em>Media:</em>

     <td>visual

    <tr>
     <td><em>Computed&nbsp;value:</em>

     <td>as specified
  </table>

  <p>This property describes how many columns an element spans across. Values
   are:

  <dl>
   <dt>none

   <dd>The element does not span multiple columns.

   <dt>all

   <dd>The element spans across all columns. Content in the normal flow that
    appears before the element is automatically balanced across all columns
    before the element appears. The element establishes a new block
    formatting context.
  </dl>

  <p>An element that spans more than one column is called a <dfn
   id=spanning-element>spanning element</dfn>. <!--
<p>This property has no effect on elements that do not fit entirely
within the multicol element. Also, if a setting on this property pushes the
element outside a multicol element, this property will have no effect.
-->


  <div class=example>
   <p>In this example, an <code>h2</code> element has been added to the
    sample document after the first sentence in the fourth sentence (i.e.,
    after the word "jkl."). This styling applies:

   <pre class=css>
h2 { column-span: all; background: silver }
img { display: none }
</pre>

   <p>By setting &lsquo;<a href="#column-span0"><code
    class=property>column-span</code></a>&rsquo; to &lsquo;<code
    class=css>all</code>&rsquo;, all content that appear before the
    <code>h2</code> element is shown before the <code>h2</code> element.

   <div class=cols>
    <p>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">
     <p>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">
     <p> 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">An H2 element</div>

    <div class=gap style="left: 150px"></div>

    <div class=gap style="left: 325px"></div>
   </div>
  </div>

  <p>A spanning element takes up more space than the element would take up
   otherwise. When space is limited, it may be impossible to find room for
   the spanning element. In these cases, user agents may treat the element as
   if &lsquo;<code class=property>none</code>&rsquo; had been specified on
   this property.

  <div class=example>
   <p>This is a variation of the previous example. In this example, the H2
    element appears later in the content, and the height of the multicol
    element is constrained. Therefore, the H2 element appears in the overflow
    and there is not room to make the element spanning. As a result, the
    element appears as if &lsquo;<code class=css>column-span:
    none</code>&rsquo; was specified.

   <div class=cols style="height: 100px">
    <div class=col style="">
     <p> 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: 175px">
     <p> 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
    </div>

    <div class=col style="left: 350px">
     <p> 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>
    </div>

    <div class=col style="left: 525px">
     <p>pqr stu vw xyz.

     <div class=rep style="width: 140px; height: 40px; background: silver;
      font-size: 1.5em; padding: 5px; margin: 0; position: static">An H2
      element</div>
     A bc def g hij klm</div>

    <div class=col style="left: 700px"> nopqrs tuv wxy z.</div>

    <div class=gap style="left: 150px"></div>

    <div class=gap style="left: 325px"></div>

    <div class=gap style="left: 500px"></div>

    <div class=gap style="left: 675px"></div>
   </div>
  </div>

  <h2 id=filling-columns><span class=secno>7. </span>Filling columns</h2>

  <p>There are two strategies for filling columns: columns can either be
   balanced, or not. If columns are balanced, UAs should minimize the
   variation in column length. Otherwise, columns are filled sequentially and
   some columns may end up partially filled, or with no content at all. In
   any case, the user agent should try to honor the &lsquo;<code
   class=property>widows</code>&rsquo; and &lsquo;<code
   class=property>orphans</code>&rsquo; properties.

  <h3 id=cf><span class=secno>7.1. </span>&lsquo;<a href="#column-fill"><code
   class=property>column-fill</code></a>&rsquo;</h3>

  <table class=propdef>
   <tbody>
    <tr>
     <td><em>Name:</em>

     <td><dfn id=column-fill>column-fill</dfn>

    <tr>
     <td><em>Value:</em>

     <td>auto | balance

    <tr>
     <td><em>Initial:</em>

     <td>balance

    <tr>
     <td><em>Applies to:</em>

     <td>multicol elements

    <tr>
     <td><em>Inherited:</em>

     <td>no

    <tr>
     <td><em>Percentages:</em>

     <td>N/A

    <tr>
     <td><em>Media:</em>

     <td>see below

    <tr>
     <td><em>Computed&nbsp;value:</em>

     <td>as specified
  </table>

  <p>The values are:

  <dl>
   <dt>balance

   <dd>Balance content equally between columns, if possible.

   <dt>auto

   <dd>Fills columns sequentially.
  </dl>

  <p>In continuous media, this property will only be consulted if the length
   of columns has been constrained. Otherwise, columns will automatically be
   balanced.

  <p>In continous media, this property does not have any effect in overflow
   columns (see below).

  <p>In paged media, this property will only have effect on the last page the
   multicol element appears on.

  <h2 id=overflow><span class=secno>8. </span>Overflow</h2>

  <h3 id=overflow-inside-multicol-elements><span class=secno>8.1.
   </span>Overflow inside multicol elements</h3>

  <p>Content in the normal flow that extends into column gaps (e.g., long
   words or images) is clipped in the middle of the column gap.

  <div class=example>
   <p>In this example, the black image is wider than the column, and is
    therefore clipped.

   <div class=cols>
    <p>Lorem ipsum dolor<br>
     sit amet. Nam at jus. <br>
     <br>
     <br>
     <br>
     <br>
     <br>
     <br>
     Sed imp er di et ris.<br>
     Cur abi tur et sapen.

    <div style="position: absolute; left: 175px; top: 0; z-index: 6;">
     <p>Lorem ipsum dolor<br>
      sit amet. Nam at jus.<br>
      Sed imp er di et ris.<br>
      Cur abi tur et sapen.<br>
      Vivamus a metus.<br>
      Aenean at risus<br>
      pharetra ante luctu<br>
      feugiat quis enim.<br>
      Cum sociis natoque<br>
      penatibus et magni.
    </div>

    <div style="position: absolute; left: 350px; top: 0; z-index: 6;">
     <p>Lorem ipsum dolor<br>
      sit amet. Nam at jus.<br>
      Sed imp er di et ris.<br>
      Cur abi tur et sapen.<br>
      Vivamus a metus.<br>
      Aenean at risus<br>
      pharetra ante luctu<br>
      feugiat quis enim.<br>
      Cum sociis natoque<br>
      penatibus et magni.
    </div>

    <div class=rep style="width: 163px"></div>

    <div class=gap style="left: 150px"></div>

    <div class=gap style="left: 325px"></div>
   </div>
  </div>

  <h3 id=pagination-and-overflow-outside-multicol><span class=secno>8.2.
   </span>Pagination and overflow outside multicol elements</h3>

  <p>Content and column rules that extend outside column boxes at the edges
   of the multi-column element are clipped according to the &lsquo;<code
   class=property>overflow</code>&rsquo; property.

  <p>A multicol element can have more columns than it has room for due to:

  <ul>
   <li>a declaration that constrains the column height (e.g., using
    &lsquo;<code class=property>height</code>&rsquo; or &lsquo;<code
    class=property>max-height</code>&rsquo;). In this case, additional column
    boxes are created in the inline direction

   <li>the size of the page. In this case, additional column boxes are moved
    to the next page(s).

   <li>explicit column breaks. In this case, additional column boxes are
    created in the inline direction for continous media, and additional
    column boxes are moved to the next page(s) for paged media.
  </ul>

  <p>Columns that appear outside the multicol element in continous media are
   called <dfn id=overflow-columns>overflow columns</dfn>.

  <div class=example>
   <p>In this example, the height of the multi-column element has been
    constrained to a maximum height. Also, the style sheet specifies that
    overflowing content should be visible:

   <pre class=css>
div {
  max-height: 5em;
  overflow: visible;
}
</pre>

   <p>As a result, the number of columns is increased.

   <div class=cols style="height: 100px">
    <div class=col style="">
     <p> 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: 175px">
     <p> 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
    </div>

    <div class=col style="left: 350px">
     <p> 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>
    </div>

    <div class=col style="left: 525px">
     <p> 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=gap style="left: 150px"></div>

    <div class=gap style="left: 325px"></div>

    <div class=gap style="left: 500px"></div>
   </div>
  </div>

  <div class=example>
   <p>In this example, explicit column breaks are generated after paragraphs:


   <pre class=css>
p {
  break-after: column;
}
</pre>

   <p>As a result, the number of columns increases and the extra columns
    added in the inline direction:

   <div class=cols style="height: 100px">
    <div class=col style="">
     <p> Ab cde fgh i jkl. Mno<br>
      pqr stu vw xyz.
    </div>

    <div class=col style="left: 175px">
     <p> Ab cde fgh i jkl. Mno<br>
      pqr stu vw xyz. A bc<br>
      def g hij klm nopqrs<br>
      tuv wxy z.
    </div>

    <div class=col style="left: 350px">
     <p> Ab cde fgh i jkl mno.<br>
    </div>

    <div class=col style="left: 525px">
     <p> Pqr stu vw xyz. A bc<br>
      def g hij klm nopqrs<br>
      tuv wxy z. Abc de fg<br>
      hi jklmno pqr stu v<br>
      wx yz.
    </div>

    <div class=gap style="left: 150px"></div>

    <div class=gap style="left: 325px"></div>

    <div class=gap style="left: 500px"></div>
   </div>
  </div>

  <div class=example>
   <p>In paged media, extra columns are shown on the next page. Given the
    same code as the previous example:

   <pre class=css>
p {
  break-after: column;
}
</pre>

   <p>As a result, the number of columns is increased and placed on the next
    page. This would appear on the first page:

   <div class=cols style="height: 80px; border-bottom: none">
    <div class=col style="">
     <p> Ab cde fgh i jkl. Mno<br>
      pqr stu vw xyz.
    </div>

    <div class=col style="left: 175px">
     <p> Ab cde fgh i jkl. Mno<br>
      pqr stu vw xyz. A bc<br>
      def g hij klm nopqrs<br>
      tuv wxy z.
    </div>

    <div class=col style="left: 350px">
     <p> Ab cde fgh i jkl.<br>
    </div>

    <div class=gap style="left: 150px"></div>

    <div class=gap style="left: 325px"></div>
   </div>

   <p>This would appear on the second page:

   <div class=cols style="height: 100px; border-top: none">
    <div class=col style="">
     <p> 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.<br>
    </div>

    <div class=gap style="left: 150px"></div>

    <div class=gap style="left: 325px"></div>
   </div>
  </div>

  <h2 id=conformance><span class=secno>9. </span>Conformance</h2>

  <p>Conforming UAs must flow the content of an element into several columns
   according to this specification.

  <p>The conformance requirements are expressed with a combination of
   descriptive assertions and RFC 2119 terminology. The key words "MUST",
   "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT", "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT",
   "RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in the normative parts of this
   document are to be interpreted as described in RFC 2119. However, for
   readability, these words do not appear in all uppercase letters in this
   specification. All of the text of this specification is normative except
   sections explicitly marked as non-normative, examples, and notes. <a
   href="#RFC2119" rel=biblioentry>[RFC2119]<!--{{!RFC2119}}--></a>

  <h3 id=cr-exit-criteria><span class=secno>9.1. </span>CR exit criteria</h3>

  <p>As described in the W3C process document, a <a
   href="http://www.w3.org/2005/10/Process-20051014/tr.html#cfi">Candidate
   Recommendation</a> (CR) is a specification that W3C recommends for use on
   the Web. The next stage is <em>Recommendation</em>, when the specification
   is sufficiently implemented.

  <p>For this specification to be proposed as a W3C Recommendation, the
   following conditions shall be met. There must be at least two independent,
   interoperable implementations of each feature. Each feature may be
   implemented by a different set of products, there is no requirement that
   all features be implemented by a single product. For the purposes of this
   criterion, we define the following terms:

  <dl>
   <dt>independent

   <dd>each implementation must be developed by a different party and cannot
    share, reuse, or derive from code used by another qualifying
    implementation. Sections of code that have no bearing on the
    implementation of this specification are exempt from this requirement.

   <dt>interoperable

   <dd>passing the respective test case(s) in the official CSS test suite,
    or, if the implementation is not a Web browser, an equivalent test. Every
    relevant test in the test suite should have an equivalent test created if
    such a user agent (UA) is to be used to claim interoperability. In
    addition if such a UA is to be used to claim interoperability, then there
    must one or more additional UAs which can also pass those equivalent
    tests in the same way for the purpose of interoperability. The equivalent
    tests must be made publicly available for the purposes of peer review.

   <dt>implementation

   <dd>a user agent which:
    <ol class=inline>
     <li>implements the specification.

     <li>is available to the general public. The implementation may be a
      shipping product or other publicly available version (i.e., beta
      version, preview release, or <em>nightly build</em>). Non-shipping
      product releases must have implemented the feature(s) for a period of
      at least one month in order to demonstrate stability.

     <li>is not experimental (i.e., a version specifically designed to pass
      the test suite and is not intended for normal usage going forward).
    </ol>
  </dl>

  <p>A minimum of sixth months of the CR period must have elapsed. This is to
   ensure that enough time is given for any remaining major errors to be
   caught.

  <p>Features will be dropped if two or more interoperable implementations
   are not found by the end of the CR period.

  <p>Features may/will also be dropped if adequate/sufficient (by judgment of
   CSS WG) tests have not been produced for those feature(s) by the end of
   the CR period.

  <h2 class=no-num id=acknowledgments>Acknowledgments</h2>

  <p>This document is based on several older proposals and comments on older
   proposals. Contributors include Øyvind Stenhaug, Sylvain Galineau,
   Giovanni Campagna, David Hyatt, David Singer, David Woolley, Elika Etemad,
   Bj&ouml;rn H&ouml;hrmann, Joost de Valk, Peter-Paul Koch, Shelby Moore,
   Till Halbach, C&eacute;dric Savarese, Andy Clarke, Robert O'Callahan,
   Markus Mielke, Alex Mogilevsky, Sergey Genkin, Michael Day, Melinda Grant,
   Kevin Lawver, David Baron, Bert Bos, Dave Raggett, Chris Wilson, Robert
   Stevahn, Peter Linss, Chris Lilley, Steve Zilles, Tantek &Ccedil;elik,
   Daniel Glazman and Ian Hickson.

  <h2 class=no-num id=references>References</h2>

  <h3 class=no-num id=normative-references>Normative references</h3>
  <!--begin-normative-->
  <!-- Sorted by label -->

  <dl class=bibliography>
   <dt style="display: none"><!-- keeps the doc valid if the DL is empty -->
    <!---->

   <dt id=CSS21>[CSS21]

   <dd>Bert Bos; et al. <a
    href="http://www.w3.org/TR/2010/WD-CSS2-20101207"><cite>Cascading Style
    Sheets Level 2 Revision 1 (CSS 2.1) Specification.</cite></a> 7 December
    2010. W3C Working Draft. (Work in progress.) URL: <a
    href="http://www.w3.org/TR/2010/WD-CSS2-20101207">http://www.w3.org/TR/2010/WD-CSS2-20101207</a>
    </dd>
   <!---->

   <dt id=RFC2119>[RFC2119]

   <dd>S. Bradner. <a href="http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2119.txt"><cite>Key
    words for use in RFCs to Indicate Requirement Levels.</cite></a> Internet
    RFC 2119. URL: <a
    href="http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2119.txt">http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2119.txt</a>
    </dd>
   <!---->
  </dl>
  <!--end-normative-->

  <h3 class=no-num id=other-references>Other references</h3>
  <!--begin-informative-->
  <!-- Sorted by label -->

  <dl class=bibliography>
   <dt style="display: none"><!-- keeps the doc valid if the DL is empty -->
    <!---->
  </dl>
  <!--end-informative-->

  <h2 class=no-num id=index>Index</h2>
  <!--begin-index-->

  <ul class=indexlist>
   <li>break-after, <a href="#break-after"
    title=break-after><strong>5.1.</strong></a>

   <li>break-before, <a href="#break-before"
    title=break-before><strong>5.1.</strong></a>

   <li>break-inside, <a href="#break-inside"
    title=break-inside><strong>5.1.</strong></a>

   <li>column box, <a href="#column-box" title="column
    box"><strong>2.</strong></a>

   <li>column-count, <a href="#column-count"
    title=column-count><strong>3.2.</strong></a>

   <li>column-fill, <a href="#column-fill"
    title=column-fill><strong>7.1.</strong></a>

   <li>column-gap, <a href="#column-gap0"
    title=column-gap><strong>4.1.</strong></a>

   <li>column-rule, <a href="#column-rule0"
    title=column-rule><strong>4.5.</strong></a>

   <li>column-rule-color, <a href="#column-rule-color"
    title=column-rule-color><strong>4.2.</strong></a>

   <li>column-rule-style, <a href="#column-rule-style"
    title=column-rule-style><strong>4.3.</strong></a>

   <li>column-rule-width, <a href="#column-rule-width"
    title=column-rule-width><strong>4.4.</strong></a>

   <li>columns, <a href="#columns0" title=columns><strong>3.3.</strong></a>

   <li>column-span, <a href="#column-span0"
    title=column-span><strong>6.1.</strong></a>

   <li>column-width, <a href="#column-width"
    title=column-width><strong>3.1.</strong></a>

   <li>multi-column element, <a href="#multi-column-element"
    title="multi-column element"><strong>2.</strong></a>

   <li>overflow columns, <a href="#overflow-columns" title="overflow
    columns"><strong>8.2.</strong></a>

   <li>spanning element, <a href="#spanning-element" title="spanning
    element"><strong>6.1.</strong></a>
  </ul>
  <!--end-index-->

  <h2 class=no-num id=property-index>Property index</h2>
  <!--begin-properties-->

  <table class=proptable>
   <thead>
    <tr>
     <th>Property

     <th>Values

     <th>Initial

     <th>Applies&nbsp;to

     <th>Inh.

     <th>Percentages

     <th>Media

   <tbody>
    <tr valign=baseline>
     <td><a class=property href="#break-after">break-after</a>

     <td>auto | always | avoid | left | right | page | column | avoid-page |
      avoid-column

     <td>auto

     <td>block-level elements

     <td>no

     <td>N/A

     <td>paged

    <tr valign=baseline>
     <td><a class=property href="#break-before">break-before</a>

     <td>auto | always | avoid | left | right | page | column | avoid-page |
      avoid-column

     <td>auto

     <td>block-level elements

     <td>no

     <td>N/A

     <td>paged

    <tr valign=baseline>
     <td><a class=property href="#break-inside">break-inside</a>

     <td>auto | avoid | avoid-page | avoid-column

     <td>auto

     <td>block-level elements

     <td>no

     <td>N/A

     <td>paged

    <tr valign=baseline>
     <td><a class=property href="#column-count">column-count</a>

     <td>&lt;integer&gt; | auto

     <td>auto

     <td>non-replaced block-level elements (except table elements), table
      cells, and inline-block elements

     <td>no

     <td>N/A

     <td>visual

    <tr valign=baseline>
     <td><a class=property href="#column-fill">column-fill</a>

     <td>auto | balance

     <td>balance

     <td>multicol elements

     <td>no

     <td>N/A

     <td>see below

    <tr valign=baseline>
     <td><a class=property href="#column-gap0">column-gap</a>

     <td>&lt;length&gt; | normal

     <td>normal

     <td>multicol elements

     <td>no

     <td>N/A

     <td>visual

    <tr valign=baseline>
     <td><a class=property href="#column-rule0">column-rule</a>

     <td>&lt;&lsquo;column-rule-width&rsquo;&gt; ||
      &lt;&lsquo;column-rule-style&rsquo;&gt; || [
      &lt;&lsquo;column-rule-color&rsquo;&gt; | transparent ]

     <td>see individual properties

     <td>multicol elements

     <td>no

     <td>N/A

     <td>visual

    <tr valign=baseline>
     <td><a class=property href="#column-rule-color">column-rule-color</a>

     <td>&lt;color&gt;

     <td>same as for &lsquo;color&rsquo; property [CSS21]

     <td>multicol elements

     <td>no

     <td>N/A

     <td>visual

    <tr valign=baseline>
     <td><a class=property href="#column-rule-style">column-rule-style</a>

     <td>&lt;border-style&gt;

     <td>none

     <td>multicol elements

     <td>no

     <td>N/A

     <td>visual

    <tr valign=baseline>
     <td><a class=property href="#column-rule-width">column-rule-width</a>

     <td>&lt;border-width&gt;

     <td>medium

     <td>multicol elements

     <td>no

     <td>N/A

     <td>visual

    <tr valign=baseline>
     <td><a class=property href="#columns0">columns</a>

     <td>&lt;&lsquo;column-width&rsquo;> || &lt;&lsquo;column-count&rsquo;>

     <td>see individual properties

     <td>non-replaced block-level elements (except table elements), table
      cells, and inline-block elements

     <td>no

     <td>N/A

     <td>visual

    <tr valign=baseline>
     <td><a class=property href="#column-span0">column-span</a>

     <td>none | all

     <td>none

     <td>block-level elements, except floating and absolutely positioned
      elements

     <td>no

     <td>N/A

     <td>visual

    <tr valign=baseline>
     <td><a class=property href="#column-width">column-width</a>

     <td>&lt;length&gt; | auto

     <td>auto

     <td>non-replaced block-level elements (except table elements), table
      cells, and inline-block elements

     <td>no

     <td>N/A

     <td>visual
  </table>
  <!--end-properties-->
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