initial-letter-align

This is an experimental technology
Check the Browser compatibility table carefully before using this in production.

The initial-letter-align CSS property specifies the alignment of initial letters within a paragraph.

/* Keyword values */
initial-letter-align: auto;
initial-letter-align: alphabetic;
initial-letter-align: hanging;
initial-letter-align: ideographic;

/* Global values */
initial-letter-align: inherit;
initial-letter-align: initial;
initial-letter-align: unset;

Syntax

One of the keyword values listed below.

Values

auto
The user agent selects the value which corresponds to the language of the text. Western languages would default to alphabetic, CJK languages to ideographic, and some Indic languages to hanging.
alphabetic
As described above, the cap height of the initial letter aligns with the cap height of the first line of text. The baseline of the initial letter aligns with the baseline of the Nth text baseline.
hanging
The hanging baseline of the initial letter aligns with the hanging baseline of the first line of text.
ideographic
The initial letter is centered in the N-line area.

Formal definition

Initial valueauto
Applies to::first-letter pseudo-elements and inline-level first child of a block container
Inheritedno
Computed valueas specified
Animation typediscrete

Formal syntax

[ auto | alphabetic | hanging | ideographic ]

Examples

Aligning initial letter

HTML

<p class="auto ">Initial letter - auto</p>
<p class="alphabetic">Initial letter - alphabetic</p>
<p class="hanging">Initial letter - hanging</p>
<p class="ideographic">Initial letter - ideographic</p>

CSS

.auto {
  -webkit-initial-letter-align: auto;
  initial-letter-align: auto;
}

.alphabetic {
  -webkit-initial-letter-align: alphabetic;
  initial-letter-align: alphabetic;
}

.hanging {
  -webkit-initial-letter-align: hanging;
  initial-letter-align: hanging;
}

.ideographic {
  -webkit-initial-letter-align: ideographic;
  initial-letter-align: ideographic;
}

Result

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
CSS Inline Layout
The definition of 'initial-letter-align' in that specification.
Working Draft Initial definition

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
initial-letter-align
Experimental
Chrome No support NoEdge No support NoFirefox No support NoIE No support NoOpera No support NoSafari No support NoWebView Android No support NoChrome Android No support NoFirefox Android No support NoOpera Android No support NoSafari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android No support No

Legend

No support
No support
Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.
Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.