How to create a dotted border in CSS
Use CSS to create dotted borders, just set the border attribute to dotted. For example, "border: 3px dotted #000" can add a 3-pixel-wide black dotted border to the element. By adjusting the border-width, the size of the point can be changed. The wider borders produce larger points. You can set dotted borders for a certain side, such as "border-top: 2px dotted red". Dotted borders are suitable for block-level elements such as div and input. They are often used in focus states or editable areas to improve accessibility. Pay attention to color contrast. At the same time, different from dashed's short-line style, dotted presents a circular dot shape. This feature is widely supported in all mainstream browsers.

Creating a dotted border in CSS is straightforward using the border property with the dotted value. Here's how you can do it and customize it depending on your needs.
Basic Dotted Border
To apply a simple dotted border to an element, use the border shorthand or the individual border-style , border-width , and border-color properties.
.dotted-box {
border: 3px dotted #000;
}This applies a 3-pixel-wide black dotted line around the element. You can adjust the color, width, and style as needed.
Customize Dotted Border Properties
You don't have to apply the border to all sides. You can target specific edges:
.dotted-top {
border-top: 2px dotted red;
}
.dotted-sides {
border-left: 1px dotted #ccc;
border-right: 1px dotted #ccc;
}This gives you control over which sides have the dotted effect.
Adjust Dot Size and Spacing
The appearance of the dots (size and spacing) is influenced by the border-width . Thicker borders create larger dots, but you can't directly control dots spacing in standard CSS. However, you can simulate finer control using pseudo-elements or box-shadow tricks for special cases.
For example, smaller dots:
.small-dots {
border: 1px dotted #999;
}Larger, more pronounced dots:
.large-dots {
border: 5px dotted #000;
}Use Cases and Tips
- Accessibility : Dotted borders are often used to indicate focus states or editable areas. Make sure the color has enough contrast.
- Dashed vs Dotted :
dottedcreates round dots, whiledashedcreates short lines. Choose based on visual intent. - Works on any block element : Apply to
div,input,img,button, etc.
Example in HTML:
<div class="dotted-box">This has a dotted border</div>
With matching CSS:
.dotted-box {
padding: 20px;
border: 2px dotted #007bff;
width: 200px;
text-align: center;
} Basically, just use border: [width] dotted [color]; and adjust as needed. It's simple and widely supported across browsers.
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