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Style padding Property

Style Object Reference Style Object

Example

Set the padding of a <div> element:

document.getElementById("myDiv").style.padding = "50px 10px 20px 30px";
Try it Yourself »

Definition and Usage

The padding property sets or returns the padding of an element.

This property can take from one to four values:

Both the margin property and the padding property insert space around an element. However, the difference is that margin inserts the space around the border, while padding inserts the space within the border of an element.

  • One value, like: div {padding: 50px} - all four sides will have a padding of 50px
  • Two values, like: div {padding: 50px 10px} - the top and bottom padding will be 50px, left and right padding will be 10px
  • Three values, like: div {padding: 50px 10px 20px} - the top padding will be 50px, left and right padding will be 10px, bottom padding will be 20px
  • Four values, like: div {padding: 50px 10px 20px 30px} - the top padding will be 50px, right padding will be 10px, bottom padding will be 20px, left padding will be 30px

Browser Support

Internet Explorer Firefox Opera Google Chrome Safari

The padding property is supported in all major browsers.


Syntax

Return the padding property:

object.style.padding

Set the padding property:

object.style.padding="%|length|initial|inherit"

Property Values

Value Description
% Defines the padding in % of the width of the parent element
length Defines the padding in length units
initial Sets this property to its default value. Read about initial
inherit Inherits this property from its parent element. Read about inherit

Technical Details

Default Value: 0
Return Value: A String, representing the padding of an element
CSS Version CSS1

More Examples

Example

Change the padding of all four sides of a <div> element to "25px":

document.getElementById("myDiv").style.padding = "25px";
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Example

Return the padding of a <div> element:

alert(document.getElementById("myDiv").style.padding);
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Example

Difference between the margin property and the padding property:

function changeMargin() {
    document.getElementById("myDiv").style.margin = "100px";
}

function changePadding() {
    document.getElementById("myDiv2").style.padding = "100px";
}
Try it Yourself »

Related Pages

CSS tutorial: CSS Padding

CSS reference: padding property


Style Object Reference Style Object