counters()

The counters() CSS function enables nested counters, returning a concatenated string representing the current values of the named counters, if there are any. The counters() function has two forms: 'counters(name, string)' or 'counters(name, string, style)'. It is generally used with pseudo-elements, but can be used, theoretically, anywhere a <string> value is supported. The generated text is the value of all counters with the given name, from outermost to innermost, separated by the specified string. The counters are rendered in the style indicated, defaulting to decimal if no style is specified.

/* Simple usage  - style defaults to decimal */
counters(countername, '-');

/* changing the counter display */
counters(countername, '.', upper-roman)

A counter has no visible effect by itself. The counters() function (and counter() function) is what makes it useful by returning developer defined content.

Syntax

Values

<custom-ident>

A name identifying the counters, which is the same case-sensitive name used for the counter-reset and counter-increment. The name cannot start with two dashes and can't be none, unset, initial, or inherit.

<counter-style>

A counter style name or symbols() function, where a counter style name is a numeric, alphabetic, or symbolic simple predefined counter style, a complex longhand east Asian or Ethiopic predefined counter style, or other predefined counter style. If omitted, the counter-style defaults to decimal

<string>

Any number of text characters. Non-Latin characters must be encoded using their Unicode escape sequences: for example, \000A9 represents the copyright symbol.

Formal syntax

counters( <custom-ident>, <string>, <counter-style>? )
where 
<counter-style> = <counter-style-name> | symbols()
where 
<counter-style-name> = <custom-ident>

Examples

default value compared to upper Roman

HTML

<ol>
  <li>
     <ol>
        <li></li>
        <li></li>
        <li></li>
      </ol>
  </li>
  <li></li>
  <li></li>
  <li>
     <ol>
        <li></li>
        <li>
           <ol>
              <li></li>
              <li></li>
              <li></li>
           </ol>
        </li>
      </ol>
  </li>
</ol>

CSS

ol {
  counter-reset: listCounter;
}
li {
  counter-increment: listCounter;
}
li::marker {
   content:  counters(listCounter, '.', upper-roman) ') ';
}
li::before {
  content:  counters(listCounter, ".") " == " counters(listCounter, ".", lower-roman) ;
}

Result

decimal-leading-zero compared to lower-alpha

HTML

<ol>
  <li>
     <ol>
        <li></li>
        <li></li>
        <li></li>
      </ol>
  </li>
  <li></li>
  <li></li>
  <li>
     <ol>
        <li></li>
        <li>
           <ol>
              <li></li>
              <li></li>
              <li></li>
           </ol>
        </li>
      </ol>
  </li>
</ol>

CSS

ol {
  counter-reset: count;
}
li {
  counter-increment: count;
}
li::marker {
   content: counters(count, '.', upper-alpha) ') ';
}
li::before {
  content: counters(count, ".", decimal-leading-zero) " == " counters(count, ".", lower-alpha);
}

Result

Specifications

Browser compatibility

See also

• Using CSS Counters
• counter-set
• counter-reset
• counter-increment
• @counter-style
• CSS counter() function
• ::marker