`orphans` CSS property

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

In typography, an orphan is the first line of a paragraph that appears alone at the bottom of a page. (The paragraph continues on a following page.)

Syntax

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

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

Values

<integer>

The minimum number of lines that can stay by themselves at the bottom of a fragment before a fragmentation break. The value must be positive.

Formal definition

Formal syntax

orphans = 
  <integer>

<integer> = 
  <number-token>

Examples

Controlling column orphans

This example uses a checkbox to switch orphans between 2 and 1. With orphans: 2, at least two lines of a paragraph must appear at the bottom of a column. With orphans: 1, the paragraph can be broken anywhere.

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 orphans work.
  </p>
  <p>
    This is the third paragraph. It has a little bit more text than the first
    one.
  </p>
</div>
<form>
  <input type="checkbox" id="orphans" checked />
  <label for="orphans">Apply orphans: 2</label>
</form>

CSS

div {
  background-color: #8cffa0;
  width: 420px;
  height: 120px;
  columns: 3;
  column-fill: auto;
  orphans: 1;
  widows: 1;
}

div:has(~ form input:checked) {
  orphans: 2;
}

p {
  background-color: #8ca0ff;
}

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

Result

In Firefox, which does not support orphans, the behavior in this example is essentially equivalent to orphans: 1, regardless of the checkbox state. The following screenshot shows the result with orphans: 2 in a supporting browser:

Specifications

Browser compatibility

See also

• widows
• Paged media