monochrome

The monochrome CSS media feature can be used to test the number of bits per pixel in the monochrome frame buffer of the output device.

Syntax

The monochrome feature is specified as an <integer> representing the number of bits per pixel in the monochrome frame buffer. If the device is not a monochrome device, the value is zero. It is a range feature, meaning that you can also use the prefixed min-monochrome and max-monochrome variants to query minimum and maximum values, respectively.

Examples

HTML

<p class="mono">Your device supports monochrome pixels!</p>
<p class="no-mono">Your device doesn't support monochrome pixels.</p>

CSS

p {
  display: none;
}

/* Any monochrome device */
@media (monochrome) {
  p.mono {
    display: block;
    color: #333;
  }
}

/* Any non-monochrome device */
@media (monochrome: 0) {
  p.no-mono {
    display: block;
    color: #ee3636;
  }
}

Result

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
Media Queries Level 4
The definition of 'monochrome' in that specification.
Candidate Recommendation The value can now be negative, in which case it computes to false.
Media Queries
The definition of 'monochrome' in that specification.
Recommendation Initial definition. The value must be nonnegative.

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
monochrome media featureChrome Full support 1Edge Full support 79Firefox Full support 2IE No support NoOpera Full support 10Safari Full support 3WebView Android Full support ≤37Chrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 4Opera Android Full support 10.1Safari iOS Full support 1Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0

Legend

Full support
Full support
No support
No support