What is the true purpose of \'display: table-column\' in CSS?
Nov 05, 2024 am 05:20 AM
Unraveling the Enigma of CSS "display: table-column"
The exploration of HTML and CSS properties often leads to intriguing questions. One such query arises when implementing a CSS table-based layout using the enigmatic "display: table-column" declaration. Despite its allure, this property has a rather specific purpose, which can lead to puzzling results if not understood correctly.
Background: The CSS Table Model
The CSS table model is an intricate system that borrows heavily from the HTML table model. In this model, a table is composed of rows and columns, with cells occupying each intersection of a row and column. While cells are direct descendants of rows, they have no direct relationship with columns.
Purpose of "display: table-column"
Contrary to popular belief, the "display: table-column" property does not provide a way to create columnar layouts. Its sole purpose is to define attributes that apply specifically to cells within the table rows. In other words, it allows us to specify characteristics like background color or font size for specific cells based on their position within the row.
However, it is important to note that the table structure remains the same as in traditional HTML. Columns do not contain content directly; instead, they exist solely as logical constructs that influence the layout of cells within rows.
Illustrative Example
Consider the following HTML and CSS code:
<code class="html"><section>
<div id="colLeft">
<div id="row1">
<div id="cell1">AAA</div>
</div>
<div id="row2">
<div id="cell2">BBB</div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="colRight">
<div id="row3">
<div id="cell3">CCC</div>
</div>
</div>
</section></code>
<code class="css">section {
display: table;
height: 100%;
background-color: grey;
}
#colLeft,
#colRight {
display: table-column;
height: 100%;
}
#row1,
#row2,
#row3 {
display: table-row;
height: 100%;
}
#cell1,
#cell2,
#cell3 {
display: table-cell;
height: 100%;
}</code>
In this example, the "display: table-column" declaration is applied to the "colLeft" and "colRight" elements. These elements do not contain any content; their sole purpose is to define the layout of cells within their respective rows.
Despite the presence of these column definitions, you may notice that nothing appears in the browser. This is because, as mentioned earlier, columns do not contain content directly. Content must be placed within table cells, which are children of table rows.
To remedy this, we need to modify our HTML structure to place content within table cells:
<code class="html"><section>
<div id="colLeft">
<div id="row1">
<div id="cell1">AAA</div>
</div>
<div id="row2">
<div id="cell2">BBB</div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="colRight">
<div id="row3">
<div id="cell3">CCC</div>
</div>
</div>
</section></code>
With this modification, the content appears as expected, demonstrating the proper use of "display: table-column."
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