`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.

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

Try it

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;
}

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

outline-style = 
  auto |
  <outline-line-style>

<outline-line-style> = 
  none |
  dotted |
  dashed |
  solid |
  double |
  groove |
  ridge |
  inset |
  outset

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