In computer terms, a border can mean several things. One is a visual border in a document, sometimes a solid line, dotted or dashed line, or one made up of various objects, like flowers, baseballs, animals, or virtually any other object. These borders can represent the outer edge of a document or separate sections within a document from each other. Below are other examples of how borders are used on computers.

HTML borders

With HTML, there are several types of borders. For example, images that are links can contain a border around them. Using CSS or HTML, you can remove or change how these borders appear.

  • HTML borders

  • Microsoft Word borders

  • Excel borders

  • Window border

  • Programming border

  • Related information

  • How to create a colored border around text with HTML and CSS.

  • How to create images as links with no borders.

HTML table borders can also be added around the table and cells inside the table. For example, the table below is an example of a table with a border thickness of two surrounding the table.

  • Additional help and information on HTML tables.

Microsoft Word borders

In Microsoft Word, a page border gives a border around the page or a border around the text on the page. Visit one of the links below for steps on how to create borders in Microsoft Word.

  • How to add, modify, or remove a page border in Microsoft Word.
  • How to create a border around text in Word.

Excel borders

Borders can also be added around any cells within Microsoft Excel or other spreadsheets. To change the borders of cells, select either the cells or the rows or columns containing the cells, right-click the selected cells, and then click Format Cells. In the Format Cells window, click the Border tab. As shown in the picture below, the Border tab lets you select the line type you want around the border. By default, it is a single solid line.

If you want a single border around all the cells, click “Outline.” If you want a line breaking up each individually highlighted cell, click “Outline” and then “Inside” to have both types of borders. If you want to design a custom border, you can draw each border individually by clicking each border line you want to appear in the Border section. Finally, the border color can also be changed by changing the color from automatic to the color of your choice.

Window border

Like a border in a document, another type of border is used to show the outer edge of a computer application window. Each application window has either a solid color or a partially transparent border to identify where an application window starts and ends.

Programming border

Another type of border is one that cannot be seen but is set to keep a mouse cursor from moving past a certain point. In an operating system, these borders keep a mouse pointer on the window and screen and prevent it from being lost. Without these borders, a mouse cursor would get lost in the area not shown by the screen or window.

Borderless printing, Cursor, Frame, Operating system terms, Spreadsheet terms, Word processor terms

  • Why are there black borders on the side of the screen?
  • HTML and web design help and support.
  • Microsoft Word help and support.
  • Microsoft Excel help and support.