font - CSS: Cascading Style Sheets

The font CSS shorthand property sets all the different properties of an element's font. Alternatively, it sets an element's font to a system font.

As with any shorthand property, any individual value that is not specified is set to its corresponding initial value (possibly overriding values previously set using non-shorthand properties). Though not directly settable by font, the longhands font-size-adjust and font-kerning are also reset to their initial values.

Constituent properties

This property is a shorthand for the following CSS properties:

Syntax

The font property may be specified as either a single keyword, which will select a system font, or as a shorthand for various font-related properties.

If font is specified as a system keyword, it must be one of: caption, icon, menu, message-box, small-caption, status-bar.

If font is specified as a shorthand for several font-related properties, then:

it must include values for:
- <font-size>
- <font-family>
it may optionally include values for:
font-style, font-variant and font-weight must precede font-size
font-variant may only specify the values defined in CSS 2.1, that is normal and small-caps
font-stretch may only be a single keyword value.
line-height must immediately follow font-size, preceded by "/", like this: "16px/3"
font-family must be the last value specified.

Values

<'font-style'>: See the font-style CSS property.
<'font-variant'>: See the font-variant CSS property.
<'font-weight'>: See the font-weight CSS property.
<'font-stretch'>: See the font-stretch CSS property.
<'font-size'>: See the font-size CSS property.
<'line-height'>: See the line-height CSS property.
<'font-family'>: See the font-family CSS property.

System font values

caption: The system font used for captioned controls (e.g., buttons, drop-downs, etc.).
icon: The system font used to label icons.
menu: The system font used in menus (e.g., dropdown menus and menu lists).
message-box: The system font used in dialog boxes.
small-caption: The system font used for labeling small controls.
status-bar: The system font used in window status bars.
Prefixed system font keywords: Browsers often implement several more, prefixed, keywords: Gecko implements -moz-window, -moz-document, -moz-desktop, -moz-info, -moz-dialog, -moz-button, -moz-pull-down-menu, -moz-list, and -moz-field.

Formal definition

Initial value	as each of the properties of the shorthand: `font-style`: `normal` `font-variant`: `normal` `font-weight`: `normal` `font-stretch`: `normal` `font-size`: `medium` `line-height`: `normal` `font-family`: depends on user agent
Applies to	all elements. It also applies to `::first-letter` and `::first-line`.
Inherited	yes
Percentages	as each of the properties of the shorthand: `font-size`: refer to the parent element's font size `line-height`: refer to the font size of the element itself
Computed value	as each of the properties of the shorthand: `font-style`: as specified `font-variant`: as specified `font-weight`: the keyword or the numerical value as specified, with `bolder` and `lighter` transformed to the real value `font-stretch`: as specified `font-size`: as specified, but with relative lengths converted into absolute lengths `line-height`: for percentage and length values, the absolute length, otherwise as specified `font-family`: as specified
Animation type	as each of the properties of the shorthand: `font-style`: discrete `font-variant`: discrete `font-weight`: a font weight `font-stretch`: a font stretch `font-size`: a length `line-height`: either number or length `font-family`: discrete

Formal syntax

[ [ <'font-style'> || <font-variant-css21> || <'font-weight'> || <'font-stretch'> ]? <'font-size'> [ / <'line-height'> ]? <'font-family'> ] | caption | icon | menu | message-box | small-caption | status-barwhere 
<font-variant-css21> = [ normal | small-caps ]

Examples

Setting font properties

/* Set the font size to 12px and the line height to 14px.
   Set the font family to sans-serif */
p { font: 12px/14px sans-serif }

/* Set the font size to 80% of the parent element
   or default value (if no parent element present).
   Set the font family to sans-serif */
p { font: 80% sans-serif }

/* Set the font weight to bold,
   the font-style to italic,
   the font size to large,
   and the font family to serif. */
p { font: bold italic large serif }

/* Use the same font as the status bar of the window */
p { font: status-bar }

Live sample

HTML

<p>
    Change the radio buttons below to see the generated shorthand and it's effect.
</p>
<form action="createShortHand()">
    <div class="cf">
        <div class="setPropCont">
            font-style<br/>
            <input type="radio" id="font-style-none" name="font_style" checked="" value="" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-style-none">none</label><br/>
            <input type="radio" id="font-style-normal" name="font_style" value="normal" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-style-normal">normal</label><br/>
            <input type="radio" id="font-style-italic" name="font_style" value="italic" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-style-italic">italic</label><br/>
            <input type="radio" id="font-style-oblique" name="font_style" value="oblique" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-style-oblique">oblique</label>
        </div>
        
        <div class="setPropCont">
            font-variant<br>
            <input type="radio" id="font-variant-none" name="font_variant" checked="" value=" " onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-variant-none">none</label><br/>
            <input type="radio" id="font-variant-normal" name="font_variant" value="normal" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-variant-normal">normal</label><br/>
            <input type="radio" id="font-variant-small-caps" name="font_variant" value="small-caps" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-variant-small-caps">small-caps</label>
        </div>
        
        <div class="setPropCont">
            font-weight<br/>
            <input type="radio" id="font-weight-none" name="font_weight" value="" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-weight-none">none</label><br/>
            <input type="radio" id="font-weight-normal" checked="" name="font_weight" value="400" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-weight-normal">normal</label><br/>
            <input type="radio" id="font-weight-bold" name="font_weight" value="700" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-weight-bold">bold</label>
        </div>
        
        <div class="setPropCont">
            font-size<br/>
            <input type="radio" id="font-size-12px" name="font_size" value="12px" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-size-12px">12px</label><br/>
            <input type="radio" id="font-size-16px" name="font_size" value="16px" checked="" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-size-16px">16px</label><br/>
            <input type="radio" id="font-size-24px" name="font_size" value="24px" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-size-24px">24px</label>
        </div>
        
        <div class="setPropCont">
            line-height<br/>
            <input type="radio" id="line-height-none" name="line_height" checked="" value="" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="line-height-none">none</label><br/>
            <input type="radio" id="line-height-1.2" name="line_height" value="/1.2" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="line-height-1.2">1.2</label><br/>
            <input type="radio" id="line-height-3" name="line_height" value="/3" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="line-height-3">3</label>
        </div><br/>

        <div class="setPropCont fontfamily">
            font-family<br/>
            <input type="radio" id="font-family-courier" name="font_family" checked="" value="courier" onchange="setCss(5,'courier')"> <label for="font-family-courier">courier</label><br/>            <input type="radio" id="font-family-serif" name="font_family" value="serif" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-family-serif">serif</label><br />
            <input type="radio" id="font-family-sans-serif" name="font_family" value="sans-serif" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-family-sans-serif">sans-serif</label><br />            <input type="radio" id="font-family-arial" name="font_family" value="arial" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-family-arial">Arial</label><br />
            <input type="radio" id="font-family-monospace" name="font_family" value="monospace" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-family-monospace">monospace</label><br />            <input type="radio" id="font-family-cursive" name="font_family" value="cursive" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-family-cursive">cursive</label><br />
            <input type="radio" id="font-family-fantasy" name="font_family" value="fantasy" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-family-fantasy">fantasy</label><br />            <input type="radio" id="font-family-system-ui" name="font_family" value="system-ui" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-family-system-ui">system-ui</label><br />
        </div>
    </div>

    <div class="cf propInputs">
        <div class="propInputCont tar">
            font :
        </div>
        <div class="propInputCont">
            <input type="text" class="curCss" id="input_font_style"><br/>
            font-style <br/>
            optional
        
        </div>
        <div class="propInputCont">
            <input type="text" class="curCss" id="input_font_variant"> <br/>
            font-variant <br/>
            optional
        </div>
        <div class="propInputCont">
            <input type="text" class="curCss" id="input_font_weight"> <br/>
            font-weight <br/>
            optional
        </div>
        <div class="propInputCont">
            <input type="text" class="curCss mandatory" id="input_font_size"> <br/>
            font-size <br/>
            mandatory
        </div>
        <div class="propInputCont">
            <input type="text" class="curCss" id="input_line_height"> <br/>
            line-height <br/>
            optional
        </div>
        <div class="propInputCont">
            <input type="text" class="curCss mandatory" id="input_font_family"> <br/>
            font-family <br/>
            mandatory
        </div>
    </div>
</form>

<div class="fontShortHand">
    This is some sample text.
</div>
<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>

CSS

body, input {
  font: 14px arial;
  overflow: hidden;
}

.propInputCont {
  float: left;
  text-align: center;
  margin-right: 5px;
  width: 80px;
}

.setPropCont {
  float: left;
  margin-right: 5px;
  width: 120px;
}

.propInputs, .setPropCont {
  margin-bottom: 1em;
}

.curCss {
  border: none;
  border-bottom: 1px solid black;
  text-align: center;
  width: 80px;
}

.mandatory {
  border-bottom-color: red;
}

.cf:before,
.cf:after {
  content: " ";
  display: table;
}

.cf:after {
  clear: both;
}

.tar {
  width: 40px;
  text-align: right;
}
.fontfamily {
  display: inline-block;
}

JavaScript

var textAreas = document.getElementsByClassName("curCss"),
    shortText = "",
    getCheckedValue,
    setCss,
    getProperties,
    injectCss;

getProperties = function () {
  shortText =
      getCheckedValue("font_style") + " " +
      getCheckedValue("font_variant") + " " +
      getCheckedValue("font_weight") + " " +
      getCheckedValue("font_size") +
      getCheckedValue("line_height") + " " +
      getCheckedValue("font_family");

  return shortText;
}

getCheckedValue = function(radio_name) {
  oRadio = document.forms[0].elements[radio_name];
  for (var i = 0; i < oRadio.length; i++) {
    if(oRadio[i].checked) {
      var propInput = "input_" + radio_name,
          curElemName = "input_" + radio_name,
          curElem = document.getElementById(curElemName);
      curElem.value = oRadio[i].value;

      return oRadio[i].value;
    }
  }
}

setCss = function () {
  getProperties();
  injectCss(shortText);
}

injectCss = function(cssFragment) {
  old = document.body.getElementsByTagName("style");
  if (old.length > 1) {
    old[1].parentElement.removeChild(old[1]);
  }
  css = document.createElement("style");
  css.innerHTML = ".fontShortHand{font: " + cssFragment + "}";
  document.body.appendChild(css);
}

setCss();

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
CSS Fonts Module Level 3 The definition of 'font' in that specification.	Candidate Recommendation	Added support for `font-stretch` values.
CSS Level 2 (Revision 1) The definition of 'font-weight' in that specification.	Recommendation	Added support for keywords.
CSS Level 1 The definition of 'font' in that specification.	Recommendation	Initial definition.

Browser compatibility

Update compatibility data on GitHub

	Desktop						Mobile
	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Internet Explorer	Opera	Safari	Android webview	Chrome for Android	Firefox for Android	Opera for Android	Safari on iOS	Samsung Internet
`font`	Chrome Full support 1	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 1	IE Full support 3	Opera Full support 3.5	Safari Full support 1	WebView Android Full support ≤37	Chrome Android Full support 18	Firefox Android Full support 4	Opera Android Full support 14	Safari iOS Full support 1	Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
Support for `font-stretch` values in shorthand	Chrome Full support 60	Edge Full support 79	Firefox Full support 43	IE No support No	Opera Full support 47	Safari Full support 11	WebView Android Full support 60	Chrome Android Full support 60	Firefox Android Full support 43	Opera Android Full support 44	Safari iOS Full support 11	Samsung Internet Android Full support 8.0
System fonts	Chrome Full support 1	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 1	IE Full support 4	Opera Full support 6	Safari Full support 1	WebView Android Full support 37	Chrome Android Full support 18	Firefox Android Full support 4	Opera Android Full support 14	Safari iOS Full support 1	Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0

Legend

Full support: Full support
No support: No support