::first-letter (:first-letter)

The ::first-letter CSS pseudo-element applies styles to the first letter of the first line of a block-level element, but only when not preceded by other content (such as images or inline tables).

/* Selects the first letter of a <p> */
p::first-letter {
  font-size: 130%;
}

The first letter of an element is not always trivial to identify:

  • Punctuation that precedes or immediately follows the first letter is included in the match. Punctuation includes any Unicode character defined in the open (Ps), close (Pe), initial quote (Pi), final quote (Pf), and other punctuation (Po) classes.
  • Some languages have digraphs that are always capitalized together, like the IJ in Dutch. In these cases, both letters of the digraph should be matched by the ::first-letter pseudo-element. (This is poorly supported by browsers; see the browser compatibility table below.)
  • A combination of the ::before pseudo-element and the content property may inject some text at the beginning of the element. In that case, ::first-letter will match the first letter of this generated content.

CSS3 introduced the ::first-letter notation (with two colons) to distinguish pseudo-classes from pseudo-elements. Browsers also accept :first-letter, introduced in CSS2.

Allowable properties

Only a small subset of CSS properties can be used with the ::first-letter pseudo-element:

Syntax

/* CSS3 syntax */
::first-letter

/* CSS2 syntax */
:first-letter

Examples

Simple drop cap

In this example we will use the ::first-letter pseudo-element to create a simple drop cap effect on the first letter of the paragraph coming right after the <h2>.

HTML

<h2>My heading</h2>
<p>Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt
  ut labore et dolore magna aliquyam erat, sed diam voluptua. At vero eos et accusam et justo duo
  dolores et ea rebum. Stet clita kasd gubergren, no sea takimata sanctus est.</p>
<p>Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat.</p>

CSS

p {
  width: 500px;
  line-height: 1.5;
}

h2 + p::first-letter {
  color: white;
  background-color: black;
  border-radius: 2px;
  box-shadow: 3px 3px 0 red;
  font-size: 250%;
  padding: 6px 3px;
  margin-right: 6px;
  float: left;
}

Result

Effect on special punctuation and non-Latin characters

This example illustrates the effect of ::first-letter on special punctuation and non-Latin characters.

HTML

<p>Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat.</p>
<p>-The beginning of a special punctuation mark.</p>
<p>_The beginning of a special punctuation mark.</p>
<p>"The beginning of a special punctuation mark.</p>
<p>'The beginning of a special punctuation mark.</p>
<p>*The beginning of a special punctuation mark.</p>
<p>#The beginning of a special punctuation mark.</p>
<p>「特殊的汉字标点符号开头。</p>
<p>《特殊的汉字标点符号开头。</p>
<p>“特殊的汉字标点符号开头。</p>

CSS

p::first-letter {
  color: red;
  font-size: 150%;
}

Result

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
CSS Pseudo-Elements Level 4
The definition of '::first-letter' in that specification.
Working Draft Generalizes allowed properties to typesetting, text decoration, inline layout properties, opacity, and box-shadow.
CSS Text Decoration Module Level 3
The definition of 'text-shadow with ::first-letter' in that specification.
Candidate Recommendation Allows the use of text-shadow with ::first-letter.
Selectors Level 3
The definition of '::first-letter' in that specification.
Recommendation Introduction of the two-colon syntax. Definition of edge-case behavior, such as in list items or with specific languages (e.g., the Dutch digraph IJ).
CSS Level 2 (Revision 1)
The definition of '::first-letter' in that specification.
Recommendation No change.
CSS Level 1
The definition of '::first-letter' in that specification.
Recommendation Initial definition, using the one-colon syntax.

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
::first-letterChrome Full support 1
Full support 1
Full support 1
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: :first-letter
Edge Full support 12
Full support 12
Full support 12
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: :first-letter
Firefox Full support 1
Full support 1
Full support 1
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: :first-letter
IE Full support 9
Full support 9
Full support 5.5
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: :first-letter
Opera Full support 7
Full support 7
Full support 3.5
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: :first-letter
Safari Full support 1
Full support 1
Full support 1
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: :first-letter
WebView Android Full support 37
Full support 37
Full support 37
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: :first-letter
Chrome Android Full support 18
Full support 18
Full support 18
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: :first-letter
Firefox Android Full support 4
Full support 4
Full support 4
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: :first-letter
Opera Android Full support 10.1
Full support 10.1
Full support 10.1
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: :first-letter
Safari iOS Full support 1
Full support 1
Full support 1
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: :first-letter
Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
Full support 1.0
Full support 1.0
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: :first-letter
Support for the Dutch digraph IJChrome No support NoEdge No support NoFirefox No support No
Notes
No support No
Notes
Notes See bug 92176.
IE No support NoOpera No support NoSafari No support NoWebView Android No support NoChrome Android No support NoFirefox Android No support No
Notes
No support No
Notes
Notes See bug 92176.
Opera Android No support NoSafari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android No support No

Legend

Full support
Full support
No support
No support
See implementation notes.
See implementation notes.
Uses a non-standard name.
Uses a non-standard name.

See also