The font-variant-position
CSS property controls the use of alternate, smaller glyphs that are positioned as superscript or subscript.
The glyphs are positioned relative to the baseline of the font, which remains unchanged. These glyphs are typically used in <sub>
and <sup>
elements.
/* Keyword values */ font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-position: sub; font-variant-position: super; /* Global values */ font-variant-position: inherit; font-variant-position: initial; font-variant-position: unset;
When the usage of these alternate glyphs is activated, if one character in the run doesn't have such a typographically-enhanced glyph, the whole set of characters of the run is rendered using a fallback method, synthesizing these glyphs.
These alternate glyphs share the same em-box and the same baseline as the rest of the font. They are merely graphically enhanced, and have no effect on the line-height and other box characteristics.
Syntax
The font-variant-position
property is specified as one of the keyword values listed below.
Values
normal
- Deactivates alternate superscript and subscript glyphs.
sub
- Activates subscript alternate glyphs. If, in a given run, one such glyph is not available for a character, all the characters in the run are rendered using synthesized glyphs.
super
- Activates superscript alternate glyphs. If, in a given run, one such glyph is not available for a character, all the characters in the run are rendered using synthesized glyphs.
Formal definition
Initial value | normal |
---|---|
Applies to | all elements. It also applies to ::first-letter and ::first-line . |
Inherited | yes |
Computed value | as specified |
Animation type | discrete |
Formal syntax
normal | sub | super
Examples
Setting superscript and subscript forms
HTML
<p class="normal">Normal!</p> <p class="super">Super!</p> <p class="sub">Sub!</p>
CSS
p { display: inline; } .normal { font-variant-position: normal; } .super { font-variant-position: super; } .sub { font-variant-position: sub; }
Result
Specifications
Specification | Status | Comment |
---|---|---|
CSS Fonts Module Level 3 The definition of 'font-variant-position' in that specification. |
Candidate Recommendation | Initial definition. |
Browser compatibility
Desktop | Mobile | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
font-variant-position | Chrome No support No | Edge No support No | Firefox
Full support
34
| 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
34
| Opera Android No support No | Safari iOS No support No | Samsung Internet Android No support No |
Legend
- Full support
- Full support
- No support
- No support
- User must explicitly enable this feature.
- User must explicitly enable this feature.