The CSS reference

"display" - css property (v. css 1)

  • This property describes how/if an element is displayed on the canvas.
  • Initial value: inline (in CSS 2), block (in CSS 1)
  • The property is not inherited
  • HTML usage: all elements
  • Browsers that support the display - property :
    Internet Explorer Mozilla Firefox Opera Google Chrome Apple Safari

Possible display values:

display value Comments CSS
block This value causes an element to generate a block box. 1
inline This value causes an element to generate a block box, which itself is flowed as a single inline box, similar to a replaced element. The inside of an inline-block is formatted as a block box, and the element itself is formatted as an inline replaced element. 1
list-item A value of 'list-item' is similar to 'block' except that a list-item marker is added. In HTML, 'LI' will typically have this value.. 1
none This value causes an element to generate no boxes in the formatting structure. Descendant elements do not generate any boxes either; this behavior cannot be overridden by setting the 'display' property on the descendants. 1
marker This value declares generated content before or after a box to be a marker. This value should only be used with ':before' and ':after' pseudo-elements attached to block-level elements. In other cases, this value is interpreted as 'inline'. 2
run-in
compact
This value creates either block or inline boxes, depending on context. Properties apply to run-in boxes based on their final status (inline-level or block-level). 2
table,
inline-table,
table-row-group,
table-column,
table-column-group,
table-header-group,
table-footer-group,
table-row,
table-cell,
and table-caption
These values cause an element to behave like a table element. 2

The three properties that affect box generation and layout interact as follows:

display value position value float value Comments
'none' Based on display value UA should ignore this Based on display value UA should ignore this The element generates no box
Based on position value: se table below. 'absolute' or 'fixed' Based on position computed value to be 'none' The position of the box will be determined by the 'top' , 'right' , 'bottom' and 'left' properties and the box's containing block.
Computed value: se table below. 'static' or 'relative' other than 'none' The box is floated.
Computed value: se table below. The element is the root element.
Apply as specified. All other cases.

Computed value based on specified value for display property under certain conditions:

Specified value Computed value
inline-table table
inline, run-in, table-row-group, table-column, table-column-group, table-header-group, table-footer-group, table-row, table-cell, table-caption, inline-block block
others same as specified

Property "display" example:

<!DOCTYPE HTML >
<html>
  <head>
    <script type="text/javascript">
      function changeDisplay(displaytype) {
        document.getElementById("h1").style.display=displaytype;
        document.getElementById("b1").style.display=displaytype;
      }
    </script>
  </head>
  <body >
    <h1 id="h1">CSS Selectors</h1>
    <blockquote id="b1">One of the primary advantages of
      CSSparticularly to designersis its ability to
      easily apply a set of styles to all elements
      of the same type. Unimpressed? Consider this:
      by editing a single line of CSS, you can change
      the colors of all your headings.</blockquote>
    <div>
      <input type="button" onclick="changeDisplay('inline')"
             value="Header and paragraph to inline" />
      <input type="button" onclick="changeDisplay('block')"
             value="Header and paragraph to block" />
      <input type="button" onclick="changeDisplay('none')"
             value="Header and paragraph to nonee" />
    </div>
  </body>
</html>

Javascript access:

// To SET values ([o] is the target object)
[o].style.display="display value"
// To GET values you must first get the computed style object
// To get that object in IE or Opera:
var cStyle=[o].currentStyle;
// To get that object in Firefox, Chrome or Safari (w3c-type):
var cStyle=window.getComputedStyle([o],null)
// To GET the property value:;
var value=cStyle.display;
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