text-emphasis

The text-emphasis CSS property applies emphasis marks to text (except spaces and control characters). It is a shorthand for text-emphasis-style and text-emphasis-color.

The text-emphasis property is quite different from text-decoration. The text-decoration property does not inherit, and the decoration specified is applied across the whole element. However, text-emphasis does inherit, which means it is possible to change emphasis marks for descendents.

The size of the emphasis symbol, like ruby symbols, is about 50% of the size of the font, and text-emphasis may affect line height when the current leading is not enough for the marks.

text-emphasis doesn't reset the value of text-emphasis-position. This is because if the style and the color of emphasis marks may vary in a text, it is extremely unlikely that their position will. In the very rare cases when this is needed, the property text-emphasis-position.

Constituent properties

This property is a shorthand for the following CSS properties:

Syntax

/* Initial value */
text-emphasis: none; /* No emphasis marks */

/* <string> value */
text-emphasis: 'x';
text-emphasis: 'į‚š';
text-emphasis: '\25B2';
text-emphasis: '*' #555;
text-emphasis: 'foo'; /* Should NOT use. It may be computed to or rendered as 'f' only */

/* Keywords value */
text-emphasis: filled;
text-emphasis: open;
text-emphasis: filled sesame;
text-emphasis: open sesame;

/* Keywords value combined with a color */
text-emphasis: filled sesame #555;

/* Global values */
text-emphasis: inherit;
text-emphasis: initial;
text-emphasis: unset;

Values

none
No emphasis marks.
filled
The shape is filled with solid color. If neither filled nor open is present, this is the default.
open
The shape is hollow.
dot
Display small circles as marks. The filled dot is 'â€ĸ' (U+2022), and the open dot is 'â—Ļ' (U+25E6).
circle
Display large circles as marks. The filled circle is '●' (U+25CF), and the open circle is '○' (U+25CB). This is the default shape in horizontal writing modes when no other shape is given.
double-circle
Display double circles as marks. The filled double-circle is '◉' (U+25C9), and the open double-circle is '◎' (U+25CE).
triangle
Display triangles as marks. The filled triangle is '▲' (U+25B2), and the open triangle is 'â–ŗ' (U+25B3).
sesame
Display sesames as marks. The filled sesame is 'īš…' (U+FE45), and the open sesame is 'īš†' (U+FE46). This is the default shape in vertical writing modes when no other shape is given.
<string>
Display the given string as marks. Authors should not specify more than one character in <string>. The UA may truncate or ignore strings consisting of more than one grapheme cluster.
<color>
Defines the color of the mark. If no color is present, it defaults to currentcolor.

Formal definition

Initial valueas each of the properties of the shorthand:
Applies toall elements
Inheritedno
Computed valueas each of the properties of the shorthand:
Animation typeas each of the properties of the shorthand:

Formal syntax

<'text-emphasis-style'> | <'text-emphasis-color'>

Examples

A heading with emphasis shape and color

This example draws a heading with triangles used to emphasize each character.

CSS

h2 {
  text-emphasis: triangle #D55;
}

HTML

<h2>This is important!</h2>

Result

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
CSS Text Decoration Module Level 3
The definition of 'text-emphasis' in that specification.
Candidate Recommendation Initial definition

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
text-emphasisChrome Full support 25
Prefixed
Full support 25
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Edge Full support 79
Prefixed
Full support 79
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Firefox Full support 46
Full support 46
No support 45 — 49
Disabled
Disabled From version 45 until version 49 (exclusive): this feature is behind the layout.css.text-emphasis.enabled preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
IE No support NoOpera Full support 15
Prefixed
Full support 15
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Safari Full support 6.1
Full support 6.1
Full support 6.1
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
WebView Android Full support 4.4
Prefixed
Full support 4.4
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Chrome Android Full support 25
Prefixed
Full support 25
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Firefox Android Full support 46
Full support 46
No support 45 — 49
Disabled
Disabled From version 45 until version 49 (exclusive): this feature is behind the layout.css.text-emphasis.enabled preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
Opera Android Full support 14
Prefixed
Full support 14
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Safari iOS Full support 7
Full support 7
Full support 7
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.5
Prefixed
Full support 1.5
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-

Legend

Full support
Full support
No support
No support
User must explicitly enable this feature.
User must explicitly enable this feature.
Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.
Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.

See also