`outline-style` CSS property

The outline-style CSS property sets the style of an element’s outline. An outline is a line that is drawn around an element, outside the border.

outline-style: none;

outline-style: dotted;

outline-style: solid;

outline-style: groove;

outline-style: inset;

<section class="default-example" id="default-example">
  <div class="transition-all" id="example-element">
    This is a box with an outline around it.
  </div>
</section>

#example-element {
  outline: 0.75em solid;
  padding: 0.75em;
  width: 80%;
  height: 100px;
}

It is often more convenient to use the shorthand property outline when defining the appearance of an outline.

Syntax

/* Keyword values */
outline-style: auto;
outline-style: none;
outline-style: dotted;
outline-style: dashed;
outline-style: solid;
outline-style: double;
outline-style: groove;
outline-style: ridge;
outline-style: inset;
outline-style: outset;

/* Global values */
outline-style: inherit;
outline-style: initial;
outline-style: revert;
outline-style: revert-layer;
outline-style: unset;

Values

This property is specified as one of the following values:

• auto
  • : Permits the user agent to render a custom outline style.
• none
  • : No outline is used.
• dotted
  • : The outline is a series of dots.
• dashed
  • : The outline is a series of short line segments.
• solid
  • : The outline is a single line.
• double
  • : The outline is two single lines. The outline-width is the sum of the two lines and the space between them.
• groove
  • : The outline looks as though it were carved into the page.
• ridge
  • : The opposite of groove: the outline looks as though it were extruded from the page.
• inset
  • : The outline makes the box look as though it were embedded in the page.
• outset
  • : The opposite of inset: the outline makes the box look as though it were coming out of the page.

Formal definition

Formal syntax

Examples

Setting outline style to auto

The auto value indicates a custom outline style, described in the specification as “typically a style [that] is either a user interface default for the platform, or perhaps a style that is richer than can be described in detail in CSS, e.g., a rounded edge outline with semi-translucent outer pixels that appears to glow”.

HTML

<div>
  <p class="auto">Outline Demo</p>
</div>

CSS

.auto {
  outline-style: auto; /* same result as "outline: auto" */
}

/* To make the Demo clearer */
* {
  outline-width: 10px;
  padding: 15px;
}

Result

Setting outline style to dashed and dotted

HTML

<div>
  <div class="dotted">
    <p class="dashed">Outline Demo</p>
  </div>
</div>

CSS

.dotted {
  outline-style: dotted; /* same result as "outline: dotted" */
}
.dashed {
  outline-style: dashed;
}

/* To make the Demo clearer */
* {
  outline-width: 10px;
  padding: 15px;
}

Result

Setting outline style to solid and double

HTML

<div>
  <div class="solid">
    <p class="double">Outline Demo</p>
  </div>
</div>

CSS

.solid {
  outline-style: solid;
}
.double {
  outline-style: double;
}

/* To make the Demo clearer */
* {
  outline-width: 10px;
  padding: 15px;
}

Result

Setting outline style to groove and ridge

HTML

<div>
  <div class="groove">
    <p class="ridge">Outline Demo</p>
  </div>
</div>

CSS

.groove {
  outline-style: groove;
}
.ridge {
  outline-style: ridge;
}

/* To make the Demo clearer */
* {
  outline-width: 10px;
  padding: 15px;
}

Result

Setting outline style to inset and outset

HTML

<div>
  <div class="inset">
    <p class="outset">Outline Demo</p>
  </div>
</div>

CSS

.inset {
  outline-style: inset;
}
.outset {
  outline-style: outset;
}

/* To make the Demo clearer */
* {
  outline-width: 10px;
  padding: 15px;
}

Result

Specifications

Browser compatibility

See also

• outline
• outline-width
• outline-color