CSS Outline

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CSS Outline
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CSS Outline
The CSS outline properties specify the style, color, and width of an outline.

An outline is a line that is drawn around elements (outside the borders) to make the element "stand out".

However, the outline property is different from the border property - The outline is NOT a part of an element's dimensions; the element's total width and height is not affected by the width of the outline.

This element has a thin black border and an outline that is 10px wide and green.

Outline Style
The outline-style property specifies the style of the outline.

The outline-style property 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. The effect depends on the outline-color value
ridge - Defines a 3D ridged outline. The effect depends on the outline-color value
inset - Defines a 3D inset outline. The effect depends on the outline-color value
outset - Defines a 3D outset outline. The effect depends on the outline-color value
none - Defines no outline
hidden - Defines a hidden outline
The following example first sets a thin black border around each <p> element, then it shows the different outline-style values:

Example
p {
    border: 1px solid black;
    outline-color: red;
}

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.

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Note: None of the OTHER CSS outline properties described below will have ANY effect unless the outline-style property is set!

Outline Color
The outline-color property is used to set the color of the outline.

The color can be set by:

name - specify a color name, like "red"
RGB - specify a RGB value, like "rgb(255,0,0)"
Hex - specify a hex value, like "#ff0000"
invert - performs a color inversion (which ensures that the outline is visible, regardless of color background)
Example
p {
    border: 1px solid black;
    outline-style: double;
    outline-color: red;
}
Result:

A colored outline.

»
Outline Width
The outline-width property specifies the width of the outline.

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.

Example
p {border: 1px solid black;}

p.one {
    outline-style: double;
    outline-color: red;
    outline-width: thick;
}

p.two {
    outline-style: double;
    outline-color: green;
    outline-width: 3px;
}
Result:

A thick outline.

A thinner outline.

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Outline - Shorthand property
To shorten the code, it is also possible to specify all the individual outline properties in one property.

The outline property is a shorthand property for the following individual outline properties:

outline-width
outline-style (required)
outline-color
Example
p {
    border: 1px solid black;
    outline: 5px dotted red;
}
Result:

An outline.

»
Test Yourself with Exercises!
Exercise 1 »  Exercise 2 »  Exercise 3 »

All CSS Outline Properties
Property Description
outline Sets all the outline properties in one declaration
outline-color Sets the color of an outline
outline-offset Specifies the space between an outline and the edge or border of an element
outline-style Sets the style of an outline
outline-width Sets the width of an outline

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