CSS Outline

An outline is a line drawn outside the element's border.

This element has a black border and a blue outline with a width of 10px.

CSS Outline

An outline is a line that is drawn around elements, OUTSIDE the borders, to make the element "stand out".

Outline

Border

Content

CSS has the following outline properties:

• outline-style
• outline-color
• outline-width
• outline-offset
• outline

Note: Outline differs from borders! Unlike border, the outline is drawn outside the element's border, and may overlap other content. Also, the outline is NOT a part of the element's dimensions; the element's total width and height is not affected by the width of the outline.

CSS Outline Style

The outline-style property specifies the style of the outline, and can have one of the following values:

• dotted - Defines a dotted outline
• dashed - Defines a dashed outline
• solid - Defines a solid outline
• double - Defines a double outline
• groove - Defines a 3D grooved outline
• ridge - Defines a 3D ridged outline
• inset - Defines a 3D inset outline
• outset - Defines a 3D outset outline
• none - Defines no outline
• hidden - Defines a hidden outline

The following example shows the different outline-style values:

Example

Demonstration of the different outline styles:

p.dotted {outline-style: dotted;}
p.dashed {outline-style: dashed;}
p.solid {outline-style: solid;}
p.double {outline-style: double;}
p.groove {outline-style: groove;}
p.ridge {outline-style: ridge;}
p.inset {outline-style: inset;}
p.outset {outline-style: outset;}

Result:

A dotted outline

A dashed outline

A solid outline

A double outline

A groove outline. The effect depends on the outline-color value.

A ridge outline. The effect depends on the outline-color value.

An inset outline. The effect depends on the outline-color value.

An outset outline. The effect depends on the outline-color value.

Note: None of the other outline properties will have ANY effect unless the outline-style property is set!