How is a CSS "display: table-column" supposed to work?

In HTML, tables consist of rows, with each row containing cells. CSS extends this concept, allowing designers to define specific row and column layouts. While "display: table-row" and "display: table-cell" are straightforward, "display: table-column" has a more nuanced purpose.

Understanding the Function of "display: table-column"

Unlike "display: table-row" and "display: table-cell," "display: table-column" does not establish a new column structure. Instead, it sets attributes for cells within existing table rows. For instance, you can specify the background color of the first cell in each row.

HTML vs. CSS Table Structure

To understand this concept, consider the following HTML table:

Cell 1
    
Cell 2
  
Cell 3
    
Cell 4
  

Corresponding to the HTML structure, the following CSS can be applied:

.mytable {
  display: table;
}
.myrow {
  display: table-row;
}
.mycell {
  display: table-cell;
}
.column1 {
  display: table-column;
  background-color: green;
}
.column2 {
  display: table-column;
}

In this example, the ".column1" and ".column2" divs are not containers for content. They merely define attributes for the cells within table rows.

Key Points to Remember

• "display: table-column" sets attributes for cells within table rows, not for columns themselves.
• The underlying table structure remains the same as in HTML, with cells being children of rows.
• "display: table-column" does not provide a mechanism for multi-column layouts, where content flows between columns.