widows

The widows CSS property sets the minimum number of lines in a block container that must be shown at the top of a page, region, or column.

/* <integer> values */
widows: 2;
widows: 3;

/* Global values */
widows: inherit;
widows: initial;
widows: unset;

In typography, a widow is the last line of a paragraph that appears alone at the top of a page. (The paragraph is continued from a prior page.)

Syntax

Values

<integer>
The minimum number of lines that can stay by themselves at the top of a new fragment after a fragmentation break. The value must be positive.

Formal definition

Initial value2
Applies toblock container elements
Inheritedyes
Computed valueas specified
Animation typediscrete

Formal syntax

<integer>

Examples

Controlling column widows

HTML

<div>
  <p>This is the first paragraph containing some text.</p>
  <p>This is the second paragraph containing some more text than the first one. It is used to demonstrate how widows work.</p>
  <p>This is the third paragraph. It has a little bit more text than the first one.</p>
</div>

CSS

div {
  background-color: #8cffa0;
  columns: 3;
  widows: 2;
}

p {
  background-color: #8ca0ff;
}

p:first-child {
  margin-top: 0;
}

Result

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
CSS Fragmentation Module Level 3
The definition of 'widows' in that specification.
Candidate Recommendation Extends widows to apply to any type of fragment, including pages, regions, or columns.
CSS Multi-column Layout Module
The definition of 'widows' in that specification.
Working Draft Recommendations to consider widows in relation to columns.
CSS Level 2 (Revision 1)
The definition of 'widows' in that specification.
Recommendation Initial definition.

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
widowsChrome Full support 25Edge Full support 12Firefox No support NoIE Full support 8Opera Full support 9.2Safari Full support 1.3WebView Android Full support ≤37Chrome Android Full support 25Firefox Android No support NoOpera Android Full support 14Safari iOS Full support 1Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.5

Legend

Full support
Full support
No support
No support

See also