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outline-style

The outline-style CSS property sets the style of an element's outline. An outline is a line that is drawn around an element, outside the border.

Try it

It is often more convenient to use the shorthand property outline when defining the appearance of an outline.

Syntax

/* Keyword values */
outline-style: auto;
outline-style: none;
outline-style: dotted;
outline-style: dashed;
outline-style: solid;
outline-style: double;
outline-style: groove;
outline-style: ridge;
outline-style: inset;
outline-style: outset;

/* Global values */
outline-style: inherit;
outline-style: initial;
outline-style: revert;
outline-style: revert-layer;
outline-style: unset;

The outline-style property is specified as any one of the values listed below.

Values

auto

Permits the user agent to render a custom outline style.

none

No outline is used. The outline-width is 0.

dotted

The outline is a series of dots.

dashed

The outline is a series of short line segments.

solid

The outline is a single line.

double

The outline is two single lines. The outline-width is the sum of the two lines and the space between them.

groove

The outline looks as though it were carved into the page.

ridge

The opposite of groove: the outline looks as though it were extruded from the page.

inset

The outline makes the box look as though it were embedded in the page.

outset

The opposite of inset: the outline makes the box look as though it were coming out of the page.

Formal definition

Initial value none
Applies to all elements
Inherited no
Computed value as specified
Animation type discrete

Formal syntax

outline-style = 
  auto                  |
  <outline-line-style>

Examples

Setting outline style to auto

The auto value indicates a custom outline style, described in the specification as "typically a style [that] is either a user interface default for the platform, or perhaps a style that is richer than can be described in detail in CSS, e.g. a rounded edge outline with semi-translucent outer pixels that appears to glow".

HTML

<div>
  <p class="auto">Outline Demo</p>
</div>

CSS

.auto {
  outline-style: auto; /* same result as "outline: auto" */
}

/* To make the Demo clearer */
* {
  outline-width: 10px;
  padding: 15px;
}

Result

Setting outline style to dashed and dotted

HTML

<div>
  <div class="dotted">
    <p class="dashed">Outline Demo</p>
  </div>
</div>

CSS

.dotted {
  outline-style: dotted; /* same result as "outline: dotted" */
}
.dashed {
  outline-style: dashed;
}

/* To make the Demo clearer */
* {
  outline-width: 10px;
  padding: 15px;
}

Result

Setting outline style to solid and double

HTML

<div>
  <div class="solid">
    <p class="double">Outline Demo</p>
  </div>
</div>

CSS

.solid {
  outline-style: solid;
}
.double {
  outline-style: double;
}

/* To make the Demo clearer */
* {
  outline-width: 10px;
  padding: 15px;
}

Result

Setting outline style to groove and ridge

HTML

<div>
  <div class="groove">
    <p class="ridge">Outline Demo</p>
  </div>
</div>

CSS

.groove {
  outline-style: groove;
}
.ridge {
  outline-style: ridge;
}

/* To make the Demo clearer */
* {
  outline-width: 10px;
  padding: 15px;
}

Result

Setting outline style to inset and outset

HTML

<div>
  <div class="inset">
    <p class="outset">Outline Demo</p>
  </div>
</div>

CSS

.inset {
  outline-style: inset;
}
.outset {
  outline-style: outset;
}

/* To make the Demo clearer */
* {
  outline-width: 10px;
  padding: 15px;
}

Result

Specifications

Specification
CSS Basic User Interface Module Level 4
# outline-style

Browser compatibility

Desktop Mobile
Chrome Edge Firefox Internet Explorer Opera Safari WebView Android Chrome Android Firefox for Android Opera Android Safari on IOS Samsung Internet
outline-style 1 12
1.5Before Firefox 88, an outline does not follow the shape of border-radius.
1–3.6		 8 7 1.2 2 18
4Before Firefox 88, an outline does not follow the shape of border-radius.
 10.1 1 1.0
auto 1 79 1.5 No 15 1.2 ≤37 18 4 14 1 1.0

See also

© 2005–2023 MDN contributors.
Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License v2.5 or later.
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/outline-style