The @media
CSS at-rule can be used to apply part of a style sheet based on the result of one or more media queries. With it, you specify a media query and a block of CSS to apply to the document if and only if the media query matches the device on which the content is being used.
Note: In JavaScript, the rules created using @media
can be accessed with the CSSMediaRule
CSS object model interface.
Syntax
The @media
at-rule may be placed at the top level of your code or nested inside any other conditional group at-rule.
/* At the top level of your code */ @media screen and (min-width: 900px) { article { padding: 1rem 3rem; } } /* Nested within another conditional at-rule */ @supports (display: flex) { @media screen and (min-width: 900px) { article { display: flex; } } }
For a discussion of media query syntax, please see Using media queries.
Description
Media types
Media types describe the general category of a device. Except when using the not
or only
logical operators, the media type is optional and the all
type will be implied.
all
- Suitable for all devices.
print
- Intended for paged material and documents viewed on a screen in print preview mode. (Please see paged media for information about formatting issues that are specific to these formats.)
screen
- Intended primarily for screens.
speech
- Intended for speech synthesizers.
tty
, tv
, projection
, handheld
, braille
, embossed
, and aural
), but they were deprecated in Media Queries 4 and shouldn't be used. The aural
type has been replaced by speech
, which is similar.Media features
Media features describe specific characteristics of the user agent, output device, or environment. Media feature expressions test for their presence or value, and are entirely optional. Each media feature expression must be surrounded by parentheses.
Name | Summary | Notes |
---|---|---|
any-hover |
Does any available input mechanism allow the user to hover over elements? | Added in Media Queries Level 4. |
any-pointer |
Is any available input mechanism a pointing device, and if so, how accurate is it? | Added in Media Queries Level 4. |
aspect-ratio |
Width-to-height aspect ratio of the viewport | |
color |
Number of bits per color component of the output device, or zero if the device isn't color | |
color-gamut |
Approximate range of colors that are supported by the user agent and output device | Added in Media Queries Level 4. |
color-index |
Number of entries in the output device's color lookup table, or zero if the device does not use such a table | |
device-aspect-ratio |
Width-to-height aspect ratio of the output device | Deprecated in Media Queries Level 4. |
device-height |
Height of the rendering surface of the output device | Deprecated in Media Queries Level 4. |
device-width |
Width of the rendering surface of the output device | Deprecated in Media Queries Level 4. |
display-mode |
The display mode of the application, as specified in the web app manifest's display member |
Defined in the Web App Manifest spec. |
forced-colors |
Detect whether user agent restricts color palette | Added in Media Queries Level 5. |
grid |
Does the device use a grid or bitmap screen? | |
height |
Height of the viewport | |
hover |
Does the primary input mechanism allow the user to hover over elements? | Added in Media Queries Level 4. |
inverted-colors |
Is the user agent or underlying OS inverting colors? | Added in Media Queries Level 5. |
light-level |
Light level of the environment | Added in Media Queries Level 5. |
monochrome |
Bits per pixel in the output device's monochrome frame buffer, or zero if the device isn't monochrome | |
orientation |
Orientation of the viewport | |
overflow-block |
How does the output device handle content that overflows the viewport along the block axis? | Added in Media Queries Level 4. |
overflow-inline |
Can content that overflows the viewport along the inline axis be scrolled? | Added in Media Queries Level 4. |
pointer |
Is the primary input mechanism a pointing device, and if so, how accurate is it? | Added in Media Queries Level 4. |
prefers-color-scheme |
Detect if the user prefers a light or dark color scheme | Added in Media Queries Level 5. |
prefers-contrast |
Detects if the user has requested the system increase or decrease the amount of contrast between adjacent colors | Added in Media Queries Level 5. |
prefers-reduced-motion |
The user prefers less motion on the page | Added in Media Queries Level 5. |
prefers-reduced-transparency |
The user prefers reduced transparency | Added in Media Queries Level 5. |
resolution |
Pixel density of the output device | |
scan |
Scanning process of the output device | |
scripting |
Detects whether scripting (i.e. JavaScript) is available | Added in Media Queries Level 5. |
update |
How frequently the output device can modify the appearance of content | Added in Media Queries Level 4. |
width |
Width of the viewport including width of scrollbar |
Accessibility concerns
To best accommodate people who adjust a site's text size, use em
s when you need a <length>
for your media queries.
Both em
and px
are valid units, but em
works better if the user changes the browser text size.
Also consider using Level 4 media queries to improve the user's experience. For example, prefers-reduced-motion
to detect if the user has requested that the system minimize the amount of animation or motion it uses.
Security
Because media queries provide insights into the capabilities—and by extension, the features and design—of the device the user is working with, there is the potential that they could be abused to construct a "fingerprint" which identifies the device, or at least categorizes it to some degree of detail that may be undesirable to users.
Because of this potential, a browser may opt to fudge the returned values in some manner in order to prevent them from being used to precisely identify a computer. A browser might also offer additional measures in this area; for example, if Firefox's "Resist Fingerprinting" setting is enabled, many media queries report default values rather than values representing the actual device state.
Formal syntax
@media <media-query-list> { <group-rule-body> }where
<media-query-list> = <media-query>#
where
<media-query> = <media-condition> | [ not | only ]? <media-type> [ and <media-condition-without-or> ]?
where
<media-condition> = <media-not> | <media-and> | <media-or> | <media-in-parens>
<media-type> = <ident>
<media-condition-without-or> = <media-not> | <media-and> | <media-in-parens>where
<media-not> = not <media-in-parens>
<media-and> = <media-in-parens> [ and <media-in-parens> ]+
<media-or> = <media-in-parens> [ or <media-in-parens> ]+
<media-in-parens> = ( <media-condition> ) | <media-feature> | <general-enclosed>where
<media-feature> = ( [ <mf-plain> | <mf-boolean> | <mf-range> ] )
<general-enclosed> = [ <function-token> <any-value> ) ] | ( <ident> <any-value> )where
<mf-plain> = <mf-name> : <mf-value>
<mf-boolean> = <mf-name>
<mf-range> = <mf-name> [ '<' | '>' ]? '='? <mf-value> | <mf-value> [ '<' | '>' ]? '='? <mf-name> | <mf-value> '<' '='? <mf-name> '<' '='? <mf-value> | <mf-value> '>' '='? <mf-name> '>' '='? <mf-value>where
<mf-name> = <ident>
<mf-value> = <number> | <dimension> | <ident> | <ratio>
Examples
Testing for print and screen media types
@media print { body { font-size: 10pt; } } @media screen { body { font-size: 13px; } } @media screen, print { body { line-height: 1.2; } } @media only screen and (min-width: 320px) and (max-width: 480px) and (resolution: 150dpi) { body { line-height: 1.4; } }
Introduced in Media Queries Level 4 is a new range syntax that allows for less verbose media queries when testing for any feature accepting a range, as shown in the below examples:
@media (height > 600px) { body { line-height: 1.4; } } @media (400px <= width <= 700px) { body { line-height: 1.4; } }
For more examples, please see Using media queries.
Specifications
Specification | Comment | Feedback |
---|---|---|
Media Queries Level 5 The definition of '@media descriptors' in that specification. |
Reinstates light-level , inverted-colors and Custom Media Queries, which were removed from Level 4.Adds prefers-reduced-motion , prefers-reduced-transparency , prefers-contrast , and prefers-color-scheme media features. |
CSS Working Group drafts GitHub issues |
CSS Conditional Rules Module Level 3 The definition of '@media' in that specification. |
Defines the basic syntax of the @media rule. |
CSS Working Group drafts GitHub issues |
Media Queries Level 4 The definition of '@media' in that specification. |
Adds |
CSS Working Group drafts GitHub issues |
Media Queries The definition of '@media' in that specification. |
||
CSS Level 2 (Revision 1) The definition of '@media' in that specification. |
Initial definition. |
Browser compatibility
Desktop | Mobile | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
@media | Chrome Full support 1 | Edge Full support 12 | Firefox Full support 1 | IE Full support 6 | Opera Full support 9.2 | Safari Full support 1.3 | WebView Android Full support 1 | Chrome Android Full support 18 | Firefox Android Full support 4 | Opera Android Full support 10.1 | Safari iOS Full support 1 | Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0 |
any-hover media feature | Chrome Full support 41 | Edge Full support 16 | Firefox Full support 64 | IE No support No | Opera Full support 28 | Safari Full support 9 | WebView Android Full support 41 | Chrome Android Full support 41 | Firefox Android Full support 64 | Opera Android Full support 28 | Safari iOS Full support 9 | Samsung Internet Android Full support 5.0 |
any-pointer media feature | Chrome Full support 41 | Edge Full support 12 | Firefox Full support 64 | IE No support No | Opera Full support 28 | Safari Full support 9 | WebView Android Full support 41 | Chrome Android Full support 41 | Firefox Android Full support 64 | Opera Android Full support 28 | Safari iOS Full support 9 | Samsung Internet Android Full support 4.0 |
aspect-ratio media feature | Chrome Full support 3 | Edge Full support 12 | Firefox Full support 3.5 | IE Full support 9 | Opera Full support 10 | Safari Full support 5 | WebView Android Full support ≤37 | Chrome Android Full support 18 | Firefox Android Full support 4 | Opera Android Full support 10.1 | Safari iOS Full support 4.2 | Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0 |
calc() expressions | Chrome Full support 66 | Edge Full support 79 | Firefox Full support 59 | IE No support No | Opera Full support 53 | Safari Full support 12 | WebView Android Full support 66 | Chrome Android Full support 66 | Firefox Android Full support 59 | Opera Android Full support 47 | Safari iOS Full support 12 | Samsung Internet Android Full support 9.0 |
color media feature | Chrome Full support 1 | Edge Full support 12 | Firefox Full support 2 | IE Full support 9 | Opera Full support 10 | Safari Full support 3 | WebView Android Full support ≤37 | Chrome Android Full support 18 | Firefox Android Full support 4 | Opera Android Full support 10.1 | Safari iOS Full support 1 | Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0 |
color-gamut media feature | Chrome Full support 58 | Edge Full support 79 | Firefox No support No | IE No support No | Opera Full support 45 | Safari Full support 10 | WebView Android Full support 58 | Chrome Android Full support 58 | Firefox Android No support No | Opera Android Full support 43 | Safari iOS Full support 10 | Samsung Internet Android Full support 7.0 |
color-index media feature | Chrome Full support 29 | Edge Full support 79 | Firefox No support No | IE No support No | Opera Full support 16 | Safari Full support 8 | WebView Android Full support ≤37 | Chrome Android Full support 29 | Firefox Android No support No | Opera Android Full support 16 | Safari iOS Full support 8 | Samsung Internet Android Full support 2.0 |
device-aspect-ratio media feature | Chrome Full support 1 | Edge Full support 12 | Firefox Full support 2 | IE Full support 9 | Opera Full support 10 | Safari Full support 3 | WebView Android Full support ≤37 | Chrome Android Full support 18 | Firefox Android Full support 4 | Opera Android Full support 10.1 | Safari iOS Full support 1 | Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0 |
device-height media feature | Chrome Full support 1 | Edge Full support 12 | Firefox Full support 2 | IE Full support 9 | Opera Full support 10 | Safari Full support 3 | WebView Android Full support ≤37 | Chrome Android Full support 18 | Firefox Android Full support 4 | Opera Android Full support 10.1 | Safari iOS Full support 1 | Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0 |
device-width media feature | Chrome Full support 1 | Edge Full support 12 | Firefox Full support 2 | IE Full support 9 | Opera Full support 10 | Safari Full support 3 | WebView Android Full support ≤37 | Chrome Android Full support 18 | Firefox Android Full support 4 | Opera Android Full support 10.1 | Safari iOS Full support 1 | Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0 |
display-mode media feature | Chrome Full support 45 | Edge Full support 79 | Firefox
Full support
47
| IE No support No | Opera Full support 32 | Safari Full support 13 | WebView Android Full support 45 | Chrome Android Full support 45 | Firefox Android
Full support
47
| Opera Android Full support 32 | Safari iOS Full support 13 | Samsung Internet Android Full support 5.0 |
forced-colors media feature | Chrome
No support
No
| Edge
No support
No
| Firefox No support No | IE No support No | Opera No support No | Safari No support No | WebView Android
No support
No
| Chrome Android
No support
No
| Firefox Android No support No | Opera Android No support No | Safari iOS No support No | Samsung Internet Android No support No |
grid media feature | Chrome Full support 1 | Edge Full support 12 | Firefox Full support 2 | IE Full support 10 | Opera Full support 10 | Safari Full support 3 | WebView Android Full support ≤37 | Chrome Android Full support 18 | Firefox Android Full support 4 | Opera Android Full support 10.1 | Safari iOS Full support 1 | Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0 |
height media feature | Chrome Full support 1 | Edge Full support 12 | Firefox Full support 2 | IE Full support 9 | Opera Full support 10 | Safari Full support 3 | WebView Android Full support ≤37 | Chrome Android Full support 18 | Firefox Android Full support 4 | Opera Android Full support 10.1 | Safari iOS Full support 1 | Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0 |
hover media feature | Chrome
Full support
38
| Edge Full support 12 | Firefox Full support 64 | IE No support No | Opera Full support 28 | Safari Full support 9 | WebView Android
Full support
38
| Chrome Android Full support 50 | Firefox Android Full support 64 | Opera Android Full support 28 | Safari iOS Full support 9 | Samsung Internet Android Full support 5.0 |
inverted-colors media feature | Chrome No support No | Edge No support No | Firefox No support No | IE No support No | Opera No support No | Safari Full support 9.1 | WebView Android No support No | Chrome Android No support No | Firefox Android No support No | Opera Android No support No | Safari iOS Full support 10 | Samsung Internet Android No support No |
light-level media feature | Chrome No support No | Edge No support No | Firefox No support No | IE No support No | Opera No support No | Safari No support No | WebView Android No support No | Chrome Android No support No | Firefox Android No support No | Opera Android No support No | Safari iOS No support No | Samsung Internet Android No support No |
Media feature expressions | Chrome Full support 1 | Edge Full support 12 | Firefox Full support 1 | IE Full support 9 | Opera Full support 9.2 | Safari Full support 1.3 | WebView Android Full support 1 | Chrome Android Full support 18 | Firefox Android Full support 4 | Opera Android Full support 10.1 | Safari iOS Full support 3.1 | Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0 |
Media query value support | Chrome Full support 66 | Edge Full support 79 | Firefox Full support 59 | IE No support No | Opera Full support 53 | Safari No support No | WebView Android Full support 66 | Chrome Android Full support 66 | Firefox Android Full support 59 | Opera Android Full support 47 | Safari iOS No support No | Samsung Internet Android Full support 9.0 |
monochrome media feature | Chrome Full support 1 | Edge Full support 79 | Firefox Full support 2 | IE No support No | Opera Full support 10 | Safari Full support 3 | WebView Android Full support ≤37 | Chrome Android Full support 18 | Firefox Android Full support 4 | Opera Android Full support 10.1 | Safari iOS Full support 1 | Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0 |
Nested media queries | Chrome Full support 26 | Edge Full support 12 | Firefox Full support 11 | IE No support No | Opera Full support 12.1 | Safari Full support 6.1 | WebView Android Full support ≤37 | Chrome Android Full support 26 | Firefox Android Full support 14 | Opera Android Full support 12.1 | Safari iOS Full support 7 | Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.5 |
orientation media feature | Chrome Full support 3 | Edge Full support 12 | Firefox Full support 2 | IE Full support 9 | Opera Full support 10.6 | Safari Full support 5 | WebView Android Full support ≤37 | Chrome Android Full support 18 | Firefox Android Full support 4 | Opera Android Full support 11 | Safari iOS Full support 4.2 | Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0 |
overflow-block media feature | Chrome No support No | Edge No support No | Firefox Full support 66 | IE No support No | Opera No support No | Safari No support No | WebView Android No support No | Chrome Android No support No | Firefox Android Full support 66 | Opera Android No support No | Safari iOS No support No | Samsung Internet Android No support No |
overflow-inline media feature | Chrome No support No | Edge No support No | Firefox Full support 66 | IE No support No | Opera No support No | Safari No support No | WebView Android No support No | Chrome Android No support No | Firefox Android Full support 66 | Opera Android No support No | Safari iOS No support No | Samsung Internet Android No support No |
pointer media feature | Chrome Full support 41 | Edge Full support 12 | Firefox Full support 64 | IE No support No | Opera Full support 28 | Safari Full support 9 | WebView Android Full support 41 | Chrome Android Full support 50 | Firefox Android Full support 64 | Opera Android Full support 28 | Safari iOS Full support 9 | Samsung Internet Android Full support 5.0 |
prefers-color-scheme media feature | Chrome Full support 76 | Edge Full support 79 | Firefox Full support 67 | IE No support No | Opera Full support 62 | Safari Full support 12.1 | WebView Android Full support 76 | Chrome Android Full support 76 | Firefox Android No support No | Opera Android Full support 54 | Safari iOS Full support 13 | Samsung Internet Android No support No |
prefers-contrast media feature | Chrome No support No | Edge No support No | Firefox No support No | IE No support No | Opera No support No | Safari No support No | WebView Android No support No | Chrome Android No support No | Firefox Android No support No | Opera Android No support No | Safari iOS No support No | Samsung Internet Android No support No |
prefers-reduced-data media feature | Chrome
Full support
85
| Edge
Full support
85
| Firefox No support No | IE No support No | Opera No support No | Safari No support No | WebView Android
No support
No
| Chrome Android
Full support
85
| Firefox Android No support No | Opera Android No support No | Safari iOS No support No | Samsung Internet Android No support No |
prefers-reduced-motion media feature | Chrome Full support 74 | Edge Full support 79 | Firefox Full support 63 | IE No support No | Opera Full support 62 | Safari Full support 10.1 | WebView Android Full support 74 | Chrome Android Full support 74 | Firefox Android Full support 64 | Opera Android Full support 53 | Safari iOS Full support 10.3 | Samsung Internet Android No support No |
prefers-reduced-transparency media feature | Chrome No support No | Edge No support No | Firefox No support No | IE No support No | Opera No support No | Safari No support No | WebView Android No support No | Chrome Android No support No | Firefox Android No support No | Opera Android No support No | Safari iOS No support No | Samsung Internet Android No support No |
resolution media feature | Chrome Full support 29 | Edge Full support 12 | Firefox
Full support
8
| IE Full support 9 | Opera
Full support
16
| Safari
No support
No
| WebView Android Full support ≤37 | Chrome Android Full support 29 | Firefox Android
Full support
8
| Opera Android
Full support
16
| Safari iOS
No support
No
| Samsung Internet Android Full support 2.0 |
scan media feature | Chrome No support No | Edge No support No | Firefox No support No | IE No support No | Opera No support No | Safari No support No | WebView Android No support No | Chrome Android No support No | Firefox Android No support No | Opera Android No support No | Safari iOS No support No | Samsung Internet Android No support No |
scripting media feature | Chrome
No support
No
| Edge
No support
No
| Firefox
No support
No
| IE No support No | Opera No support No | Safari No support No | WebView Android
No support
No
| Chrome Android
No support
No
| Firefox Android
No support
No
| Opera Android No support No | Safari iOS No support No | Samsung Internet Android
No support
No
|
speech media type | Chrome No support No | Edge No support No | Firefox No support No | IE No support No | Opera Full support 9.2 | Safari No support No | WebView Android No support No | Chrome Android No support No | Firefox Android No support No | Opera Android Full support 10.1 | Safari iOS No support No | Samsung Internet Android No support No |
update media feature | Chrome No support No | Edge No support No | Firefox No support No | IE No support No | Opera No support No | Safari No support No | WebView Android No support No | Chrome Android No support No | Firefox Android No support No | Opera Android No support No | Safari iOS No support No | Samsung Internet Android No support No |
width media feature | Chrome Full support 1 | Edge Full support 12 | Firefox Full support 2 | IE Full support 9 | Opera Full support 10 | Safari Full support 3 | WebView Android Full support ≤37 | Chrome Android Full support 18 | Firefox Android Full support 4 | Opera Android Full support 10.1 | Safari iOS Full support 1 | Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0 |
-moz-device-pixel-ratio media feature | Chrome No support No | Edge No support No | Firefox Full support 4 | IE No support No | Opera No support No | Safari No support No | WebView Android No support No | Chrome Android No support No | Firefox Android Full support 4 | Opera Android No support No | Safari iOS No support No | Samsung Internet Android No support No |
-webkit-animation media feature | Chrome No support 2 — 36 | Edge No support No | Firefox No support No | IE No support No | Opera No support 15 — 23 | Safari Full support 4 | WebView Android No support ≤37 — ≤37 | Chrome Android No support 18 — 36 | Firefox Android No support No | Opera Android No support 14 — 24 | Safari iOS Full support 3.2 | Samsung Internet Android No support 1.0 — 3.0 |
-webkit-device-pixel-ratio media feature | Chrome Full support 1 | Edge Full support 12 | Firefox
Full support
63
| IE No support No | Opera Full support 15 | Safari Full support 3 | WebView Android Full support ≤37 | Chrome Android Full support 18 | Firefox Android
Full support
63
| Opera Android Full support 14 | Safari iOS Full support 1 | Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0 |
-webkit-max-device-pixel-ratio media feature | Chrome Full support 1 | Edge Full support 12 | Firefox
Full support
63
| IE No support No | Opera Full support 15 | Safari Full support 3 | WebView Android Full support ≤37 | Chrome Android Full support 18 | Firefox Android
Full support
63
| Opera Android Full support 14 | Safari iOS Full support 1 | Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0 |
-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio media feature | Chrome Full support 1 | Edge Full support 12 | Firefox
Full support
63
| IE No support No | Opera Full support 15 | Safari Full support 3 | WebView Android Full support ≤37 | Chrome Android Full support 18 | Firefox Android
Full support
63
| Opera Android Full support 14 | Safari iOS Full support 1 | Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0 |
-webkit-transform-2d media feature | Chrome No support 2 — 36 | Edge No support No | Firefox No support No | IE No support No | Opera No support 15 — 23 | Safari Full support 4 | WebView Android No support ≤37 — ≤37 | Chrome Android No support 18 — 36 | Firefox Android No support No | Opera Android No support 14 — 24 | Safari iOS Full support 3.2 | Samsung Internet Android No support 1.0 — 3.0 |
-webkit-transform-3d media feature | Chrome No support 2 — 36 | Edge No support 12 — 79 | Firefox
Full support
49
| IE No support No | Opera No support 15 — 23 | Safari Full support 4 | WebView Android No support ≤37 — ≤37 | Chrome Android No support 18 — 36 | Firefox Android
Full support
49
| Opera Android No support 14 — 24 | Safari iOS Full support 3.2 | Samsung Internet Android No support 1.0 — 3.0 |
-webkit-transition media feature | Chrome No support 2 — 36 | Edge No support No | Firefox No support No | IE No support No | Opera No support 15 — 23 | Safari Full support 4 | WebView Android No support ≤37 — ≤37 | Chrome Android No support 18 — 36 | Firefox Android No support No | Opera Android No support 14 — 24 | Safari iOS Full support 3.2 | Samsung Internet Android No support 1.0 — 3.0 |
Legend
- Full support
- Full support
- No support
- No support
- Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.
- Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.
- Non-standard. Expect poor cross-browser support.
- Non-standard. Expect poor cross-browser support.
- Deprecated. Not for use in new websites.
- Deprecated. Not for use in new websites.
- See implementation notes.
- See implementation notes.
- User must explicitly enable this feature.
- User must explicitly enable this feature.
See also
- Using media queries
- In JavaScript,
@media
can be accessed via the CSS object model interfaceCSSMediaRule
. - Extended Mozilla media features
- Extended WebKit media features