Output data in 3 columns by repeat in Visualforce

There're a lot way to output a list of strings in 3 columns, like 3*n.

Here are two ways.

First need to get the value of list before output, list should be able to public get. Here is an example.

// [sample] string[]
public String[] getSampleStrings() {
    return new String[]{'ONE','TWO','THREE','FOUR','FIVE','SIX','SEVEN','EIGHT','NINE'};
}

Way 1: Use first and rows in apex:outputPanel

// Repeat sample start (by first and rows)
<apex:outputpanel layout="block">
    <apex:repeat first="1" rows="3" value="{!sampleStrings}" var="sampStr">
        <apex:outputtext style="padding: 0 10px;" value="{!sampStr}">
    </apex:outputtext></apex:repeat>
</apex:outputpanel>
<apex:outputpanel layout="block">
    <apex:repeat first="4" rows="3" value="{!sampleStrings}" var="sampStr">
        <apex:outputtext style="padding: 0 10px;" value="{!sampStr}">
    </apex:outputtext></apex:repeat>
</apex:outputpanel>

• first="1" means this repeat will start from list[0]
• rows="3" means repeat 3 rows(times). When first="1", it will output like "list[0] list[1] list[2]". If you want 4 columns, set row="4".
• first="4" means this repeat will start from list[3]. If you repeat in 4 columns, set first="5".
• rows="3" means repeat 3 rows(times). When first="1", it will output like "list[0] list[1] list[2]".

It will output like below.

Advantage in controlling the output as you will.

Way 2: Set columns in apex:pageBlockSection

<apex:pageBlockSection columns="3">
    <apex:repeat value="{!sampleStrings}" var="sampStr">
        <apex:outputText value="{!sampStr}" style="padding:0 10px;" />
    </apex:repeat>
</apex:pageBlockSection>

columns="3" means repeat this list in 3 columns. If you repeat in 4 columns, set columns="4".
Output:

Advantage in outputting all data.