What is the best method for ensuring three inside divs have equal heights?

I am working with a container div#content that holds three inner divs. I want to ensure that all three divs have the same height, but also expand based on their content. Here is an example of what I have tried:

<!doctype html public "-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en">
<html>
<head>
<title></title>
<style type="text/css">
   #content{background-color:#DDDDD;width:100%;overflow:auto;clear:both;height:100%;}
   #col1{background-color:yellow;width:10%;float:left;height:100%;}
   #col2{background-color:red;width:30%;float:left;height:100%;}
   #col3{background-color:#AAAAAA;width:10%;float:left;;height:100%;}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<div id="content">
 <div id="col1">
     <script language="javascript">
 for(i=0;i<1000;i++){
 document.write(i+"<br />");
 }
 </script>
 </div>
 <div id="col2">
      <script language="javascript">
 for(i=0;i<100;i++){
 document.write(i+"<br />");
 }
 </script>
 </div>
 <div id="col3">
       <script language="javascript">
 for(i=0;i<10;i++){
 document.write(i+"<br />");
 }
 </script>
 </div>

Answer №1

Despite facing criticism from CSS enthusiasts, I stand by the suggestion that when CSS falls short in providing a solution to certain problems (and no, "change your design" isn't a valid answer)...

My go-to recommendation is using a table for that specific part of your layout.

Tables excel at ensuring consistent vertical sizing across different browsers. Until CSS catches up with addressing these challenges effectively, tables remain my preferred choice in such scenarios.

Answer №2

If you're looking to create divs of equal height, a handy technique is to use "Faux Columns". This concept was initially introduced by Dan Cederholm, and there are various tutorials available for it. One tutorial provides a good overview of the process. For those working in a liquid layout environment, this article might be helpful.

The key idea behind Faux Columns is to avoid forcing the divs to have equal heights but rather using a wrapper with a background image that gives the illusion of columns being the same height. This method is reliable across modern browsers, including older ones like IE6. The drawback is that you'll need a background image wide enough to cover the maximum page width allowed, typically X pixels wide and 1px high.

Answer №3

Initially, it's important to follow the DRY principle (Don't Repeat Yourself) when using equal attributes on different elements. This can be achieved by consolidating these attributes in one location like this:

.content div{
    border:1px solid #404040
}

By doing this, you only need to make changes in one place.

Regarding your query about dynamic height, setting the height of the divs to 100% enables them to occupy all vertical space. However, achieving consistent behavior across different browsers might require finding a suitable workaround. If you prefer not to fill up the content div with the divs, consider placing another div inside the content div and encompassing the three divs within it.

For example:

<div id="content">
    <div class="innerContent">
        <div class="1">Lorem Ipsum</div>
        <div class="2">Lorem Ipsum</div>
        <div class="3">Lorem Ipsum</div>
    </div>
</div>

Answer №4

It's possible that the issue lies in having identical height values for the divs, whether in percentage or pixels. Alternatively, you may need to implement a script, such as in JavaScript, that dynamically adjusts the heights based on content. CSS alone may not offer a solution, but I am open to learning if there is one!

Answer №5

One option is to explore using CSS for modern web browsers, utilizing properties like display: table-cell, but this approach may not be fully compatible with IE6 and IE7.

If compatibility with IE6 and IE7 is crucial, one workaround could involve incorporating specific JavaScript code targeting these older browsers through conditional statements. This script can then adjust the column heights accordingly to match the tallest one. While not elegant, it may be a temporary solution given the decreasing usage of IE6 and 7.

Additionally, another viable approach is Machine's faux columns method, which has been effective in many design scenarios.

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