How Can I Display an Unordered List in Two Columns Using CSS and JavaScript?

Displaying an Unordered List in Two Columns

Introduction

For modern browsers, the primary approach to displaying an unordered list in two columns involves utilizing the CSS3 columns module. However, for legacy browsers such as Internet Explorer, a JavaScript-based solution is necessary.

Modern Browsers

Using the CSS3 columns module, you can simply add the following CSS rules to achieve the desired effect:

ul {
  columns: 2;
  -webkit-columns: 2;
  -moz-columns: 2;
}

Legacy Browsers

For legacy browsers, you can employ a JavaScript solution that involves DOM manipulation. Here's a JavaScript code example using jQuery:

$(function(){
    var initialContainer = $('.columns'),
        columnItems = $('.columns li'),
        columns = null,
        column = 1;

    function updateColumns(){
        column = 0;
        columnItems.each(function(idx, el){
            if (idx > (columnItems.length / columns.length) + (column * idx)){
                column += 1;
            }
            $(columns.get(column)).append(el);
        });
    }

    function setupColumns(){
        columnItems.detach();
        while (column++ <p>And here's the corresponding CSS:</p><pre class="brush:php;toolbar:false">.columns{
    float: left;
    position: relative;
    margin-right: 20px;
}

Variant Display Option

The code provided above results in the following column arrangement:

A  E
B  F
C  G
D

To achieve the variant layout requested by the OP:

A  B
C  D
E  F
G

Modify the updateColumns() function as follows:

function updateColumns(){
    column = 0;
    columnItems.each(function(idx, el){
        if (column > columns.length){
            column = 0;
        }
        $(columns.get(column)).append(el);
        column += 1;
    });
}

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