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:
- it may optionally include values for:
font-style,font-variantandfont-weightmust precedefont-sizefont-variantmay only specify the values defined in CSS 2.1, that isnormalandsmall-capsfont-stretchmay only be a single keyword value.line-heightmust immediately followfont-size, preceded by "/", like this: "16px/3"font-familymust be the last value specified.
Values
<'font-style'>- See the
font-styleCSS property. <'font-variant'>- See the
font-variantCSS property. <'font-weight'>- See the
font-weightCSS property. <'font-stretch'>- See the
font-stretchCSS property. <'font-size'>- See the
font-sizeCSS property. <'line-height'>- See the
line-heightCSS property. <'font-family'>- See the
font-familyCSS 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.
- 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:
|
|---|---|
| Applies to | all elements. It also applies to ::first-letter and ::first-line. |
| Inherited | yes |
| Percentages | as each of the properties of the shorthand:
|
| Computed value | as each of the properties of the shorthand:
|
| Animation type | as each of the properties of the shorthand:
|
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
| Desktop | Mobile | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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
