fourcolumn

Four-column is a layout concept in which the available horizontal space is divided into four vertical columns. This configuration is used to present multiple streams of content in parallel, such as headlines, images, sidebars, and widgets, while maintaining a consistent typographic grid.

Historically, four-column layouts appeared in print media like newspapers and magazines where columnar organization facilitated efficient use of space. With digital publishing and responsive web design, four columns are commonly used in dashboards, portals, and editorial templates to create structured, modular regions that can be rearranged or styled independently.

Design considerations include column width, gutters (the space between columns), and line length to preserve readability. Four-column grids support visual balance and rhythm but can become cluttered if each column carries dense text or if the content lacks hierarchy. On smaller screens or narrow print formats, the grid is often reflowed into two or one column(s) to preserve legibility.

Implementation on the web typically uses CSS grid or flexbox to define four equal columns, for example by using a four-column grid and a gap for gutters, with responsive rules to collapse to fewer columns at specific breakpoints. In print, column guides and page templates help ensure consistent alignment.

Variants include asymmetric four-column arrangements where columns have different widths, or panels with fixed heights for visual mosaics. The term four-column is sometimes used generically in content management systems for templates that present four modular regions.