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.

/* <integer> values */ orphans: 2; orphans: 3;  /* Global values */ orphans: inherit; orphans: initial; orphans: revert; orphans: unset; 

orphans

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.

/* <integer> values */ orphans: 2; orphans: 3;  /* Global values */ orphans: inherit; orphans: initial; orphans: revert; orphans: unset; 

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

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

Initial value	2
Applies to	block container elements
Inherited	yes
Computed value	as specified
Animation type	discrete

Formal syntax

<integer>

Examples

Setting a minimum orphan size of three lines

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> 

CSS

div {   background-color: #8cffa0;   height: 150px;   columns: 3;   orphans: 3; }  p {   background-color: #8ca0ff; }  p:first-child {   margin-top: 0; } 

Result

Specifications

Specification
CSS Fragmentation Module Level 3 # widows-orphans

See also

widows Paged media

Last modified: Oct 3, 2021, by MDN contributors

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