How Can I Break Long Lists into Multiple Columns Using CSS?

Breaking Lists into Columns with CSS

Presenting long, narrow lists in multiple columns can enhance webpage readability and reduce the need for excessive scrolling. This article explores CSS techniques to accomplish this task.

CSS Multi-Column Solution

For modern browsers that support the CSS Multi-Column specification, you can use the following properties:

ul {
    column-count: 4;
    column-gap: 20px;
}

This will automatically divide the list into four columns with a gap of 20px between them.

JavaScript Fallback for IE

IE 9 and older do not support multi-column layouts, so a JavaScript fallback is necessary:

1. Use a jQuery plugin like Columnizer (http://welcome.totheinter.net/columnizer-jquery-plugin/).
2. Implement a manual fallback solution that uses float: left and calculates the proper width for each list item (as seen in http://jsfiddle.net/NJ4Hw/).

Additional Notes

• The -moz- and -webkit- prefixes are used for compatibility with older versions of Firefox and Safari.
• The fallback solution may not preserve the correct order of list items in IE.
• Consider using a cross-browser testing tool to ensure compatibility across different browsers.

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