---
title: '-webkit-line-clamp'
slug: Web/CSS/-webkit-line-clamp
tags:
  - '-webkit-line-clamp'
  - CSS
  - CSS Property
  - Non-standard
  - recipe:css-property
browser-compat: css.properties.-webkit-line-clamp
---
{{CSSRef}}

The **`-webkit-line-clamp`** CSS property allows limiting of the contents of a {{Glossary("block container")}} to the specified number of lines.

It only works in combination with the {{cssxref("display")}} property set to `-webkit-box` or `-webkit-inline-box` and the {{cssxref("-webkit-box-orient")}} property set to `vertical`.

In most cases you will also want to set {{cssxref("overflow")}} to `hidden`, otherwise the contents won't be clipped but an ellipsis will still be shown after the specified number of lines.

When applied to anchor elements, the truncating can happen in the middle of the text, not necessarily at the end.

> **Note:** This property was originally implemented in WebKit and has some issues. It got standardized for legacy support. The [CSS Overflow Module Level 3](https://www.w3.org/TR/css-overflow-3/#propdef--webkit-line-clamp) specification also defines a {{cssxref("line-clamp")}} property, which is meant to replace this property and avoid its issues.

## Syntax

```css
/* Keyword value */
-webkit-line-clamp: none;

/* <integer> values */
-webkit-line-clamp: 3;
-webkit-line-clamp: 10;

/* Global values */
-webkit-line-clamp: inherit;
-webkit-line-clamp: initial;
-webkit-line-clamp: unset;
```

- `none`
  - : This value specifies that the content won't be clamped.
- {{cssxref("integer")}}
  - : This value specifies the number of lines after which the content will be clamped. It must be greater than 0.

## Formal definition

{{CSSInfo}}

## Formal syntax

{{CSSSyntax}}

## Examples

### Truncating a paragraph

#### HTML

```html
<p>
  In this example the <code>-webkit-line-clamp</code> property is set to <code>3</code>, which means the text is clamped after three lines.
  An ellipsis will be shown at the point where the text is clamped.
</p>
```

#### CSS

```css
p {
  width: 300px;
  display: -webkit-box;
  -webkit-box-orient: vertical;
  -webkit-line-clamp: 3;
  overflow: hidden;
}
```

#### Result

{{EmbedLiveSample("Truncating_a_paragraph", "100%", "100")}}

## Specifications

{{Specifications}}

## Browser compatibility

{{Compat}}

## See also

- [Line Clampin’ (Truncating Multiple Line Text)](https://css-tricks.com/line-clampin/)
- {{cssxref("line-clamp")}}
