table-layout

Summary

The table-layout CSS property defines the algorithm to be used to layout the table cells, rows, and columns.

Initial valueauto
Applies totable and inline-table elements
Inheritedno
Mediavisual
Computed valueas specified
Animatableno
Canonical orderthe unique non-ambiguous order defined by the formal grammar

Syntax

/* Keyword values */
table-layout: auto;
table-layout: fixed;

/* Global values */
table-layout: inherit;
table-layout: initial;
table-layout: unset;

Values

auto
An automatic table layout algorithm is commonly used by most browsers for table layout. The width of the table and its cells depends on the content thereof.
fixed
Table and column widths are set by the widths of table and col elements or by the width of the first row of cells. Cells in subsequent rows do not affect column widths.

Under the "fixed" layout method, the entire table can be rendered once the first table row has been downloaded and analyzed. This can speed up rendering time over the "automatic" layout method, but subsequent cell content may not fit in the column widths provided. Any cell that has content that overflows uses the overflow property to determine whether to clip the overflow content.

Formal syntax

auto | fixed

Examples

.contentbox {
  table-layout: fixed;
}

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
CSS Level 2 (Revision 1)
The definition of 'table-layout' in that specification.
Recommendation Initial definition

Browser compatibility

Feature Chrome Firefox (Gecko) Internet Explorer Opera Safari
Basic support ?  - 14.0 +  1.0 (1.7 or earlier) 5.0 7.0 1.0
Feature Android Chrome for Android Firefox Mobile (Gecko) IE Mobile Opera Mobile Safari Mobile
Basic support ? 1.5 ? ? ? ? 9.8.0 ? 3.0

Document Tags and Contributors

 Last updated by: Sebastianz,