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page-break-before

The page-break-before CSS property adjusts page breaks before the current element.

This property applies to block elements that generate a box. It won't apply on an empty <div> that won't generate a box.

/* Keyword values */
page-break-before: auto;
page-break-before: always;
page-break-before: avoid;
page-break-before: left;
page-break-before: right;
page-break-before: recto;
page-break-before: verso;

/* Global values */
page-break-before: inherit;
page-break-before: initial;
page-break-before: unset;

Note: this property is in progress of being replaced by the more generic break-before. This new property also handles column and region breaks and is syntactically compatible with page-break-before.

Before using page-break-before, check if you can use break-before instead. In the future page-break-before will be a mere alias for some values of it.

Initial value	`auto`
Applies to	block-level elements in the normal flow of the root element. User agents may also apply it to other elements like `table-row` elements.
Inherited	no
Media	visual, paged
Computed value	as specified
Animation type	discrete
Canonical order	the unique non-ambiguous order defined by the formal grammar

Syntax

Values

auto: Initial value. Automatic page breaks (neither forced nor forbidden).
always: Always force page breaks before the element.
avoid: Avoid page breaks before the element.
left: Force page breaks before the element so that the next page is formatted as a left page.
right: Force page breaks before the element so that the next page is formatted as a right page.
recto: If pages progress left-to-right, then this acts like right. If pages progress right-to-left, then this acts like left.
verso: If pages progress left-to-right, then this acts like left. If pages progress right-to-left, then this acts like right.

Formal syntax

auto | always | avoid | left | right

Examples

/* avoid page break before the div */
div.note { 
    page-break-before: avoid;
}

Specification

Specification	Status	Comment
CSS Logical Properties and Values Level 1 The definition of 'recto and verso' in that specification.	Editor's Draft	Adds the values `recto` and `verso`.
CSS Paged Media Module Level 3 The definition of 'page-break-before' in that specification.	Working Draft	Extends the element that this property applies to table rows and table row groups.
CSS Level 2 (Revision 1) The definition of 'page-break-before' in that specification.	Recommendation	Initial definition

Browser compatibility

Feature	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Internet Explorer	Opera	Safari
Basic support	1	Yes	1¹	4	7	1.2

Feature	Android webview	Chrome for Android	Edge mobile	Firefox for Android	IE mobile	Opera Android	iOS Safari
Basic support	?	?	Yes	4¹	?	?	?

1. The values avoid, left, and right are unsupported.