CSS Border Properties
The CSS
border properties allow you to specify the style, width, and color of an element's border.I have borders on all sides.
I have a red bottom border.
I have rounded borders.
Border Style
The
border-style property specifies what kind of border to display.The following values are allowed:
dotted- Defines a dotted borderdashed- Defines a dashed bordersolid- Defines a solid borderdouble- Defines a double bordergroove- Defines a 3D grooved border. The effect depends on the border-color valueridge- Defines a 3D ridged border. The effect depends on the border-color valueinset- Defines a 3D inset border. The effect depends on the border-color valueoutset- Defines a 3D outset border. The effect depends on the border-color valuenone- Defines no borderhidden- Defines a hidden border
The
border-style property can have from one to four values (for the top border, right border, bottom border, and the left border).Example
p.dotted {border-style: dotted;}
p.dashed {border-style: dashed;}
p.solid {border-style: solid;}
p.double {border-style: double;}
p.groove {border-style: groove;}
p.ridge {border-style: ridge;}
p.inset {border-style: inset;}
p.outset {border-style: outset;}
p.none {border-style: none;}
p.hidden {border-style: hidden;}
p.mix {border-style: dotted dashed solid double;}Result:
A dotted border.
A dashed border.
A solid border.
A double border.
A groove border. The effect depends on the border-color value.
A ridge border. The effect depends on the border-color value.
An inset border. The effect depends on the border-color value.
An outset border. The effect depends on the border-color value.
No border.
A mixed border.
Note: None of the OTHER CSS border properties described below will have ANY effect unless the
border-styleproperty is set!Border Width
The
border-width property specifies the width of the four borders.The width can be set as a specific size (in px, pt, cm, em, etc) or by using one of the three pre-defined values: thin, medium, or thick.
The
border-width property can have from one to four values (for the top border, right border, bottom border, and the left border).5px border-width
Example
p.one {
border-style: solid;
border-width: 5px;}
p.two {
border-style: solid;
border-width: medium;}
p.three {
border-style: solid;
border-width: 2px 10px 4px 20px;}Border Color
The
border-color property is used to set the color of the four borders.The color can be set by:
- name - specify a color name, like "red"
- Hex - specify a hex value, like "#ff0000"
- RGB - specify a RGB value, like "rgb(255,0,0)"
- transparent
The
border-color property can have from one to four values (for the top border, right border, bottom border, and the left border). If
border-color is not set, it inherits the color of the element.Red border
Example
p.one {
border-style: solid;
border-color: red;}
p.two {
border-style: solid;
border-color: green;}
p.three {
border-style: solid;
border-color: red green blue yellow;}Border - Individual Sides
From the examples above you have seen that it is possible to specify a different border for each side.
In CSS, there are also properties for specifying each of the borders (top, right, bottom, and left):
Different Border Styles
Example
p {
border-top-style: dotted;
border-right-style: solid;
border-bottom-style: dotted;
border-left-style: solid;}The example above gives the same result as this:
Example
p {
border-style: dotted solid;}So, here is how it works:
If the
border-style property has four values:- border-style: dotted solid double dashed;
- top border is dotted
- right border is solid
- bottom border is double
- left border is dashed
If the
border-style property has three values:- border-style: dotted solid double;
- top border is dotted
- right and left borders are solid
- bottom border is double
If the
border-style property has two values:- border-style: dotted solid;
- top and bottom borders are dotted
- right and left borders are solid
If the
border-style property has one value:- border-style: dotted;
- all four borders are dotted
The
border-style property is used in the example above. However, it also works with border-width and border-color.Border - Shorthand Property
As you can see from the examples above, there are many properties to consider when dealing with borders.
To shorten the code, it is also possible to specify all the individual border properties in one property.
The
border property is a shorthand property for the following individual border properties:border-widthborder-style(required)border-color
Example
p {
border: 5px solid red;}Result:
Some text
You can also specify all the individual border properties for just one side:
Left Border
p {
border-left: 6px solid red;
background-color: lightgrey;}Result:
Some text
Bottom Border
p {
border-bottom: 6px solid red;
background-color: lightgrey;}Result:
Some text
Rounded Borders
The
border-radius property is used to add rounded borders to an element:Normal border
Round border
Rounder border
Roundest border
Example
p {
border: 2px solid red;
border-radius: 5px;}Note: The
border-radius property is not supported in IE8 and earlier versions.More Examples
All the top border properties in one declaration
This example demonstrates a shorthand property for setting all of the properties for the top border in one declaration.
This example demonstrates a shorthand property for setting all of the properties for the top border in one declaration.
Set the style of the bottom border
This example demonstrates how to set the style of the bottom border.
This example demonstrates how to set the style of the bottom border.
Set the width of the left border
This example demonstrates how to set the width of the left border.
This example demonstrates how to set the width of the left border.
Set the color of the four borders
This example demonstrates how to set the color of the four borders. It can have from one to four colors.
This example demonstrates how to set the color of the four borders. It can have from one to four colors.
Set the color of the right border
This example demonstrates how to set the color of the right border.
This example demonstrates how to set the color of the right border.
All CSS Border Properties
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| border | Sets all the border properties in one declaration |
| border-bottom | Sets all the bottom border properties in one declaration |
| border-bottom-color | Sets the color of the bottom border |
| border-bottom-style | Sets the style of the bottom border |
| border-bottom-width | Sets the width of the bottom border |
| border-color | Sets the color of the four borders |
| border-left | Sets all the left border properties in one declaration |
| border-left-color | Sets the color of the left border |
| border-left-style | Sets the style of the left border |
| border-left-width | Sets the width of the left border |
| border-radius | Sets all the four border-*-radius properties for rounded corners |
| border-right | Sets all the right border properties in one declaration |
| border-right-color | Sets the color of the right border |
| border-right-style | Sets the style of the right border |
| border-right-width | Sets the width of the right border |
| border-style | Sets the style of the four borders |
| border-top | Sets all the top border properties in one declaration |
| border-top-color | Sets the color of the top border |
| border-top-style | Sets the style of the top border |
| border-top-width | Sets the width of the top border |
| border-width | Sets the width of the four borders |