CSS Lists
Last Updated : 09 Jan, 2025
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CSS Lists are used to display items in a clear and organized manner, either with bullets (unordered) or numbers (ordered). They help keep content neat and structured on a webpage.
With CSS, you can customize the look of lists to improve the design and layout of your content.
Try It:
Decimal
Decimal Leading Zero
Lower Roman
Upper Roman
Lower Alpha
Upper Alpha
Square
None
Circle
- Item 1
- Item 2
- Item 3
Currently Active Property:
list-style-type: decimal;<!--Driver Code Starts-->
<html>
<head>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
<style>
ul {
list-style-type: square;
}
</style>
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
</head>
<body>
<ul>
<li>Item 1</li>
<li>Item 2</li>
<li>Item 3</li>
</ul>
</body>
</html>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
In this example:
- The <ul> element represents an unordered list.
- The list-style-type: square; declaration changes the default bullet points to squares.
Types of Lists in CSS
The list can be categorized into 2 types:
- Unordered List: In unordered lists, the list items are marked with bullets i.e. small black circles by default.
- Ordered List: In ordered lists, the list items are marked with numbers and an alphabet.
Properties of CSS List
We have the following CSS lists properties, which can be used to control the CSS lists:
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| list-style-type | Specifies the appearance of the list item marker (e.g., disc, circle, square, numbers, etc.). |
| list-style-image | Sets the image to be used as the list item marker, replacing the default marker with a custom image. |
| list-style-position | Defines the position of the marker relative to the list item's content (inside or outside the list item). |
| list-style | A shorthand property to set list-style-type, list-style-position, and list-style-image together. |
Now, we will learn more about these properties with examples.
List Item Marker
The list-style-type property defines the marker for each list item. By default, unordered lists have a disc-shaped marker. You can change it to different types like numbers, squares, or images.
Syntax:
list-style-type: value;
The following value can be used:
| CSS List Style Type | Description |
|---|---|
| none | No bullet or marker is shown for the list items. |
| circle | Displays a hollow circle as the marker, commonly used for unordered lists. |
| decimal | Numbers the list items sequentially, starting from 1 (e.g., 1, 2, 3...). |
| decimal-leading-zero | Similar to decimal, but adds leading zeroes (e.g., 01, 02, 03...). |
| lower-roman | Uses lowercase Roman numerals for list markers (e.g., i, ii, iii...). |
| upper-roman | Shows uppercase Roman numerals as markers (e.g., I, II, III...). |
| lower-alpha | Assigns lowercase alphabet letters (e.g., a, b, c...) for ordered list markers. |
| upper-alpha | Marks ordered list items with uppercase letters (e.g., A, B, C...). |
| square | Displays a solid square as the marker for unordered lists. |
More examples on CSS Lists
Custom Bullet Points
<html>
<head>
<style>
ul.custom-bullets {
list-style-type: none;
padding-left: 0;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<ul class="custom-bullets">
<li>First item</li>
<li>Second item</li>
<li>Third item</li>
</ul>
</body>
</html>
In this example:
- The list-style-type: none; removes the default bullet points.
Ordered List with Custom Numbering
<html>
<head>
<style>
ol.custom-numbers {
list-style-type: none;
counter-reset: custom-counter;
padding-left: 0;
}
ol.custom-numbers li {
counter-increment: custom-counter;
margin-bottom: 5px;
}
ol.custom-numbers li::before {
content: counter(custom-counter) ". ";
font-weight: bold;
margin-right: 5px;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<ol class="custom-numbers">
<li>Step one</li>
<li>Step two</li>
<li>Step three</li>
</ol>
</body>
</html>
In this example:
- The counter-reset: custom-counter; initializes a custom counter for the list.
- Each li increments the counter, and the ::before pseudo-element displays the current counter value followed by a period.
Best Practices for CSS Lists
- Use Consistent Styling: Ensure uniform appearance across all lists by defining standard styles for list types (ul, ol) and list items (li).
- Maintain Proper Indentation: Align nested lists correctly to reflect hierarchy, enhancing readability and structure.
- Customize List Markers Thoughtfully: Use list-style-type or custom markers to match the design aesthetic, ensuring they enhance user experience without causing confusion.
