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CSS Border Collapse

CSS

The CSS property border-collapse controls whether the borders of adjacent table cells are merged into a single border or displayed as separate, distinct borders.

CSS border-collapse property

➔ This property is primarily applied to the <table> element and elements with a property value of display: table.

➔ By default, table cells specify their own independent borders and create a double-border effect where cells meet.

➔ If the border-collapse value is collapse, properties like border-spacing and border-radius will not work.

Syntax

border-collapse: separate | collapse | initial | inherit;

Property values

Value Description
separate Each table cell specifies its own independent borders. This is default.
collapse The borders of adjacent cells are merged into a single, shared border.
initial Sets the property to its default value.
inherit The element inherits the property value from its parent element.

Example

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>CSS border collapse Example</title>
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
    <meta charset="utf-8" />
    <style>
        table {
            width: 100%;
        }
        td,
        th {
            border: 1px solid #00000055;
            text-align: left;
            padding: 8px;
        }
        tr:nth-child(even) {
            background-color: #dddddd;
        }
        thead {
            background-color: #107080;
            color: white;
        }
    </style>
</head>
<body>
    <h3>CSS border collapse Example</h3>
    <h3>Birds Table (border-collapse: collapse;)</h3>
    <table style="border-collapse: collapse;">
        <thead>
            <tr>
                <th>Name</th>
                <th>Found in significant numbers</th>
            </tr>
        </thead>
        <tbody>
            <tr>
                <td>Bald Eagle</td>
                <td>United States</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>Peacock</td>
                <td>India</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>Emu</td>
                <td>Australia</td>
            </tr>
        </tbody>
    </table>
    <br>
    <h3>Birds Table (withoud border-collapse: collapse;)</h3>
    <table>
        <thead>
            <tr>
                <th>Name</th>
                <th>Found in significant numbers</th>
            </tr>
        </thead>
        <tbody>
            <tr>
                <td>Bald Eagle</td>
                <td>United States</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>Peacock</td>
                <td>India</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>Emu</td>
                <td>Australia</td>
            </tr>
        </tbody>
    </table>
</body>
</html>
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