Template:Columns/doc
 | This is a documentation subpage for Template:Columns. It contains usage information, categories and other content that is not part of the original template page. |
{{Columns}} may be used to create up to 2 (two) columns across a page.
 | This template creates a table rather than actual columns. This means that it may displays poorly on mobile devices or narrow screens and is sub-optimal in terms of accessibility. Approximately half of the readers of English Wikipedia articles are using mobile devices and may have trouble reading the content that is wrapped in this template. Please consider using one of the CSS-based column templates listed in the § See also section instead, or not using columns at all if there is any trouble affects page layout. |
Syntax
Values for col1 and col2, i.e. the contents of the first and second columns, are expected.
{{Columns
| background = <!-- Background (default is none) -->
| style = <!-- Use to add extra overall CSS styling -->
| colwidth = <!-- Width of each column (default 15.0em) -->
| gapbetween = <!-- Gap (gutter) between each column (default 1.25em) -->
| col1width = <!-- Use to set a custom width for col1 -->
| col1 = <!-- (REQUIRED) First column's contents -->
| col2width = <!-- Use to set a custom width for col2 (and so on) -->
| col2 = <!-- (REQUIRED) Second column's contents -->
}}
The parameters colstyle and col1style to col2style may also be used to tailor all and/or individual columns' CSS styling.
Examples
- Code
{{Columns
| col1 = This is a simple application of the columns template, demonstrating the default column widths
| col2 = and gaps between columns. See the next example for a more customized use of the template.
}}
- Result
| This is a simple application of the columns template, demonstrating the default column widths | and gaps between columns. See the next example for a more customized use of the template. |
- Code
{{Columns |background=beige |colwidth=8.5em |gap<!--between-->=3.25em
| col1 =
* These
* columns
* are
* more
* complex
| col2 =
The<br />background<br />is<br />beige
}}
- Result
|
The background is beige |
See also
Column-generating template families
The templates listed here are not interchangeable. For example, using {{col-float}} with {{col-end}} instead of {{col-float-end}} would leave a HTML "div" (division) open, potentially harming any subsequent formatting.
| Type | Family | Handles wiki
table code?  |
Responsive/ Mobile suited |
Start template | Column divider | End template |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Float | "Col-float" | Yes | Yes | {{Col-float}} | {{Col-float-break}} | {{Col-float-end}} |
| "Columns-start" | Yes | Yes | {{Columns-start}} | {{Column}} | {{Columns-end}} | |
| Columns | "Div col" | Yes | Yes | {{Div col}} | – | {{Div col end}} |
| "Columns-list" | No | Yes | {{Columns-list}} (wraps div col) | – | – | |
| Flexbox | "Flex columns" | No | Yes | {{Flex columns}} | – | – |
| Table | "Col" | Yes | No | {{Col-begin}}, {{Col-begin-fixed}} or {{Col-begin-small}} |
{{Col-break}} or {{Col-2}} .. {{Col-5}} |
{{Col-end}} |
Can the columns handle the wiki markup {| | || |- |} used to create tables? If not, templates that produce these elements (such as {{(!}}, {{!}}, {{!!}}, {{!-}}, {{!)}}) or HTML tags (<table>...</table>, <tr>...</tr>, etc.) will need to be used instead.