caption-side

The caption-side CSS property puts the content of a table's <caption> on the specified side. The values are relative to the writing-mode of the table.

Syntax

/* Directional values */
caption-side: top;
caption-side: bottom;

/* Warning: non-standard values */
caption-side: left;
caption-side: right;
caption-side: top-outside;
caption-side: bottom-outside;

/* Global values */
caption-side: inherit;
caption-side: initial;
caption-side: unset;

The caption-side property is specified as one of the keyword values listed below.

Values

top
The caption box should be positioned above the table.
bottom
The caption box should be positioned below the table.
left
The caption box should be positioned on the left side of the table.
This value was proposed for CSS 2, but removed from the final CSS 2.1 specification. It is non-standard.
right
The caption box should be positioned on the right side of the table.
This value was proposed for CSS 2, but removed from the final CSS 2.1 specification. It is non-standard.
top-outside
The caption box should be positioned above the table, while the width and horizontal alignment behavior are not bound to the table's horizontal layout.
The CSS 2.1 specification notes that the CSS 2 specification described a different behavior for the top value, which will be reintroduced by this value in a future specification.
bottom-outside
The caption box should be positioned below the table, while the width and horizontal alignment behavior are not bound to the table's horizontal layout.
The CSS 2.1 specification notes that the CSS 2 specification described a different behavior for the bottom value, which will be reintroduced by this value in a future specification.

Formal definition

Initial valuetop
Applies totable-caption elements
Inheritedyes
Computed valueas specified
Animation typediscrete

Formal syntax

top | bottom | block-start | block-end | inline-start | inline-end

Examples

Setting captions above and below

HTML

<table class="top">
  <caption>Caption ABOVE the table</caption>
  <tr>
    <td>Some data</td>
    <td>Some more data</td>
  </tr>
</table>

<br>

<table class="bottom">
  <caption>Caption BELOW the table</caption>
  <tr>
    <td>Some data</td>
    <td>Some more data</td>
  </tr>
</table>

CSS

.top caption {
  caption-side: top;
}

.bottom caption {
  caption-side: bottom;
}

table {
  border: 1px solid red;
}

td {
  border: 1px solid blue;
}

Result

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
CSS Logical Properties and Values Level 1
The definition of 'caption-side' in that specification.
Editor's Draft Defines the top and bottom values as relative to the writing-mode value.
CSS Level 2 (Revision 1)
The definition of 'caption-side' in that specification.
Recommendation Initial definition.

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
caption-sideChrome Full support 1Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 1IE Full support 8Opera Full support 4Safari Full support 1WebView Android Full support ≤37Chrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 4Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS Full support 1Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
Non-standard values left, right, top-outside, and bottom-outside
Non-standard
Chrome No support NoEdge No support NoFirefox Full support 1IE No support NoOpera No support NoSafari No support NoWebView Android No support NoChrome Android No support NoFirefox Android Full support 4Opera Android No support NoSafari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android No support No
top and bottom are relative to the writing-mode valueChrome No support NoEdge No support NoFirefox Full support 42IE No support NoOpera No support NoSafari No support NoWebView Android No support NoChrome Android No support NoFirefox Android Full support 42Opera Android No support NoSafari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android No support No

Legend

Full support
Full support
No support
No support
Non-standard. Expect poor cross-browser support.
Non-standard. Expect poor cross-browser support.