font-synthesis-position

The font-synthesis-position CSS property lets you specify whether or not a browser may synthesize the subscript and superscript "position" typefaces when they are missing in a font family, while using font-variant-position to set the positions.

The font-synthesis-position property has no effect when using the <sup> and <sub> elements.

It is often convenient to use the shorthand property font-synthesis to control all typeface synthesis values.

Syntax

css
/* Keyword values */
font-synthesis-position: auto;
font-synthesis-position: none;

/* Global values */
font-synthesis-position: inherit;
font-synthesis-position: initial;
font-synthesis-position: revert;
font-synthesis-position: revert-layer;
font-synthesis-position: unset;

Values

auto

Indicates that a missing position typeface may be synthesized by the browser if needed.

none

Indicates that the synthesis of a missing position typeface by the browser is not allowed.

Formal definition

Initial valuenone
Applies toall elements and text. It also applies to ::first-letter and ::first-line.
Inheritedyes
Computed valueas specified
Animation typediscrete

Formal syntax

font-synthesis-position = 
  auto  |
  none

Examples

Disabling synthesis of position typeface

This example shows turning off synthesis of the superscript and subscript typefaces by the browser in the Montserrat font.

HTML

html
<p>
  These are the default position <span class="super">superscript</span>,
  position <span class="sub">subscript</span>, <strong>bold</strong> and
  <em>oblique</em> typefaces.
</p>

<p class="no-syn">
  The positions <span class="super">superscript</span> and
  <span class="sub">subscript</span> typeface is turned off here but not the
  <strong>bold</strong> and <em>oblique</em> typefaces (on browsers that support
  <code>font-synthesis-position</code>).
</p>

CSS

css
@import url("https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Montserrat&display=swap");

* {
  font-family: "Montserrat", sans-serif;
}
.super {
  font-variant-position: super;
}
.sub {
  font-variant-position: sub;
}
.no-syn {
  font-synthesis-position: none;
}

Result

Specifications

Specification
CSS Fonts Module Level 4
# font-synthesis-position

Browser compatibility

BCD tables only load in the browser

See also