twocolumn

Twocolumn is a page layout in which the content is divided into two vertical columns on each page. This format is common in academic journals, magazines, and newsletters, as well as in web design to maximize information density and to mirror traditional print layouts.

In LaTeX and other print-typesetting systems, the two-column option can be activated at the start of the document or mid-document; for example, by using a documentclass option or the \twocolumn command. Within two-column text, regular text flows within each column; wide objects such as figures and tables may span both columns using special constructs (for example, figure* in LaTeX). The last page may be balanced to have roughly equal column heights, and some documents provide balancing behavior with packages.

In web design, CSS provides multi-column layout with column-count: 2, column-width, and column-gap controls; content flows between columns, and items like images can break across columns unless prevented. This approach allows text to fill two columns and then continue into the next, facilitating dense layouts similar to print.

Advantages include higher information density and easier skimming, especially for newsletters and journals. Drawbacks include shorter line length potentially reducing readability, difficulties with footnotes or wide floats, and column breaks that can interrupt the reading flow. Designers may impose constraints such as minimum line length, balanced columns, and consistent column width to maintain readability.

Typical uses include scientific journals, conference proceedings, design magazines, and responsive layouts that switch between single-column on small screens and two-column on larger screens.