Can ordered list produce result that looks like 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 (instead of just 1, 2, 3, ...) with css?

Question

Can an ordered list produce results that looks like 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 (instead of just 1, 2, 3, ...) with CSS? So far, using list-style-type:decimal has produced only 1, 2, 3, not 1.1, 1.2., 1.3.

Answer 1

You can use counters to do so:

The following style sheet numbers nested list items as "1", "1.1", "1.1.1", etc.

OL { counter-reset: item }
LI { display: block }
LI:before { content: counters(item, ".") " "; counter-increment: item }

Example

ol { counter-reset: item }
li{ display: block }
li:before { content: counters(item, ".") " "; counter-increment: item }

<ol>
  <li>li element
    <ol>
      <li>sub li element</li>
      <li>sub li element</li>
      <li>sub li element</li>
    </ol>
  </li>
  <li>li element</li>
  <li>li element
    <ol>
      <li>sub li element</li>
      <li>sub li element</li>
      <li>sub li element</li>
    </ol>
  </li>
</ol>

See Nested counters and scope for more information.

Answer 2

None of solutions on this page works correctly and universally for all levels and long (wrapped) paragraphs. It’s really tricky to achieve a consistent indentation due to variable size of marker (1., 1.2, 1.10, 1.10.5, …); it can’t be just “faked,” not even with a precomputed margin/padding for each possible indentation level.

I finally figured out a solution that actually works and doesn’t need any JavaScript.

It’s tested on Firefox 32, Chromium 37, IE 9 and Android Browser. Doesn't work on IE 7 and previous.

CSS:

ol {
  list-style-type: none;
  counter-reset: item;
  margin: 0;
  padding: 0;
}

ol > li {
  display: table;
  counter-increment: item;
  margin-bottom: 0.6em;
}

ol > li:before {
  content: counters(item, ".") ". ";
  display: table-cell;
  padding-right: 0.6em;    
}

li ol > li {
  margin: 0;
}

li ol > li:before {
  content: counters(item, ".") " ";
}

Example:

Try it on JSFiddle, fork it on Gist.

Answer 3

The chosen answer is a great start, but it essentially forces list-style-position: inside; styling on the list items, making wrapped text hard to read. Here's a simple workaround that also gives control over the margin between the number and text, and right-aligns the number as per the default behaviour.

ol {
    counter-reset: item;
}
ol li {
    display: block;
    position: relative;
}
ol li:before {
    content: counters(item, ".")".";
    counter-increment: item;
    position: absolute;
    margin-right: 100%;
    right: 10px; /* space between number and text */
}

JSFiddle: http://jsfiddle.net/3J4Bu/

Answer 4

The solutions posted here did not work well for me, so I did a mixture of the ones of this question and the following question: Is it possible to create multi-level ordered list in HTML?

/* Numbered lists like 1, 1.1, 2.2.1... */
ol li {display:block;} /* hide original list counter */
ol > li:first-child {counter-reset: item;} /* reset counter */
ol > li {counter-increment: item; position: relative;} /* increment counter */
ol > li:before {content:counters(item, ".") ". "; position: absolute; margin-right: 100%; right: 10px;} /* print counter */

Result:

Note: the screenshot, if you wish to see the source code or whatever is from this post: http://estiloasertivo.blogspot.com.es/2014/08/introduccion-running-lean-y-lean.html

Answer 5

Note: Use CSS counters to create nested numbering in a modern browser. See the accepted answer. The following is for historical interest only.

---

If the browser supports content and counter,

.foo {
  counter-reset: foo;
}
.foo li {
  list-style-type: none;
}
.foo li::before {
  counter-increment: foo;
  content: "1." counter(foo) " ";
}

<ol class="foo">
  <li>uno</li>
  <li>dos</li>
  <li>tres</li>
  <li>cuatro</li>
</ol>

Answer 6

In the near future you may be able to use the ::marker psuedo-element to achieve the same result as other solutions in just one line of code.

Remember to check the Browser Compatibility Table as this is still an experimental technology. At the moment of writing only Firefox and Firefox for Android, starting from version 68, support this.

Here is a snippet that will render correctly if tried in a compatible browser:

::marker { content: counters(list-item,'.') ':' }
li { padding-left: 0.5em }

<ol>
  <li>li element
    <ol>
      <li>sub li element</li>
      <li>sub li element</li>
      <li>sub li element</li>
    </ol>
  </li>
  <li>li element</li>
  <li>li element
    <ol>
      <li>sub li element</li>
      <li>sub li element</li>
      <li>sub li element</li>
    </ol>
  </li>
</ol>

You may also want to check out this great article by smashingmagazine on the topic.

Answer 7

The following worked for me:

ol {
  list-style-type: none;
  counter-reset: item;
  margin: 0;
  padding: 0;
}

ol > li {
  display: table;
  counter-increment: item;
  margin-bottom: 0.6em;
}

ol > li:before {
  content: counters(item, ".") ") ";
  display: table-cell;
  padding-right: 0.6em;
}

li ol > li {
  margin: 0;
}

li ol > li:before {
  content: counters(item, ".") ") ";
}

Look at: http://jsfiddle.net/rLebz84u/2/

or this one http://jsfiddle.net/rLebz84u/3/ with more and justified text

Answer 8

<html>
    <head>
        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
        <meta name="author" content="Sandro Alvares - KingRider">
    </head>
    <body>
        <style type="text/css">
            li.title { 
                font-size: 20px; 
                font-weight: lighter; 
                padding: 15px; 
                counter-increment: ordem; 
            }
            .foo { 
                counter-reset: foo; 
                padding-left: 15px; 
            }
            .foo li { 
                list-style-type: none; 
            }
            .foo li:before { 
                counter-increment: foo; 
                content: counter(ordem) "." counter(foo) " "; 
            }
        </style>
        <ol>
            <li class="title">TITLE ONE</li>
            <ol class="foo">
                <li>text 1 one</li>
                <li>text 1 two</li>
                <li>text 1 three</li>
                <li>text 1 four</li>
            </ol>
            <li class="title">TITLE TWO</li>
            <ol class="foo">
                <li>text 2 one</li>
                <li>text 2 two</li>
                <li>text 2 three</li>
                <li>text 2 four</li>
            </ol>
            <li class="title">TITLE THREE</li>
            <ol class="foo">
                <li>text 3 one</li>
                <li>text 3 two</li>
                <li>text 3 three</li>
                <li>text 3 four</li>
            </ol>
        </ol>
    </body>
</html>

Result: http://i.stack.imgur.com/78bN8.jpg

Answer 9

I have some problem when there are two lists and second one is inside DIV Second list should start at 1. not 2.1

<ol>
    <li>lorem</li>
    <li>lorem ipsum</li>
</ol>

<div>
    <ol>
        <li>lorem (should be 1.)</li>
        <li>lorem ipsum ( should be 2.)</li>
    </ol>
</div>

http://jsfiddle.net/3J4Bu/364/

EDIT: I solved the problem by this http://jsfiddle.net/hy5f6161/

Answer 10

this is proper code if you want to first child li resize of other css.

<style>
    li.title { 
        font-size: 20px; 

        counter-increment: ordem; 
        color:#0080B0;
    }
    .my_ol_class { 
        counter-reset: my_ol_class; 
        padding-left: 30px !important; 
    }
    .my_ol_class li { 
          display: block;
        position: relative;

    }
    .my_ol_class li:before { 
        counter-increment: my_ol_class; 
        content: counter(ordem) "." counter(my_ol_class) " "; 
        position: absolute;
        margin-right: 100%;
        right: 10px; /* space between number and text */
    }
    li.title ol li{
         font-size: 15px;
         color:#5E5E5E;
    }
</style>

in html file.

        <ol>
            <li class="title"> <p class="page-header list_title">Acceptance of Terms. </p>
                <ol class="my_ol_class">
                    <li> 
                        <p>
                            my text 1.
                        </p>
                    </li>
                    <li>
                        <p>
                            my text 2.
                        </p>
                    </li>
                </ol>
            </li>
        </ol>