Tag column-rule

When displaying content in multiple columns (like a magazine or newspaper layout), adding a vertical line between columns can improve readability and structure. That’s exactly what the column-rule property does in CSS — it draws a visual separator between columns.

---

🧾 What is column-rule?

The column-rule property is a shorthand that sets the width, style, and color of the line (rule) between columns in a multi-column layout.

It acts like a vertical border but only between columns — not on the outer edges.

---

🧬 Syntax

selector {
  column-rule: <width> <style> <color>;
}

Components:

Part	Description	Example
width	Thickness of the rule line	1px, 3px
style	Line style (like a border)	solid, dashed
color	Color of the rule	black, #ccc, rgba(...)

---

🎯 Examples

1. Solid black rule

.article {
  column-count: 2;
  column-rule: 2px solid black;
}

This creates a 2px solid black line between the two columns.

---

2. Dashed colored rule

.content {
  column-count: 3;
  column-rule: 1px dashed #00aaff;
}

Applies a dashed light blue line between three columns.

---

3. Use longhand properties (alternative)

.columns {
  column-count: 2;
  column-rule-width: 3px;
  column-rule-style: dotted;
  column-rule-color: red;
}

Same result as using shorthand, but with more control or conditional styling.

---

🧠 How It Works

• The rule appears between columns only — not on the sides of the container.
• If there’s only one column, the rule is not displayed.
• Can be combined with column-gap to set spacing and rule width appropriately.

---

🛠️ Tips & Best Practices

• Ensure the rule has good contrast for accessibility.
• Avoid overly thick or busy rule styles — they can distract from the content.
• Use transparent or soft-colored rules for a subtle effect.
• Don’t forget to set column-count or column-width — column-rule won’t work on its own.

---

✅ Browser Support

column-rule is supported across all modern browsers:

• ✅ Chrome
• ✅ Firefox
• ✅ Safari
• ✅ Edge
• ✅ Opera
• ✅ Internet Explorer 10+ (with limited styling support)

---

🔚 Conclusion

The CSS column-rule property adds a professional, clean visual divider between columns in multi-column layouts. Whether subtle or bold, it helps readers navigate content with ease.