CSS: registerProperty() static method

Baseline 2024

Newly available

Since July 2024, this feature works across the latest devices and browser versions. This feature might not work in older devices or browsers.

The CSS.registerProperty() static method registers custom properties, allowing for property type checking, default values, and properties that do or do not inherit their value.

Registering a custom property allows you to tell the browser how the custom property should behave; what types are allowed, whether the custom property inherits its value, and what the default value of the custom property is.

Syntax

js
CSS.registerProperty(PropertyDefinition)

Parameters

A PropertyDefinition dictionary object, which can contain the following members:

name

A string representing the name of the property being defined.

syntax Optional

A string representing the expected syntax of the defined property. Defaults to "*".

inherits

A boolean value defining whether the defined property should be inherited (true), or not (false). Defaults to false.

initialValue Optional

A string representing the initial value of the defined property.

Return value

undefined.

Exceptions

InvalidModificationError DOMException

The given name has already been registered.

SyntaxError DOMException

The given name isn't a valid custom property name (starts with two dashes, e.g. --foo).

TypeError

The required name and/or inherits dictionary members were not provided.

Examples

The following will register a custom property, --my-color, using registerProperty(), as a color, give it a default value, and have it not inherit its value:

js
window.CSS.registerProperty({
  name: "--my-color",
  syntax: "<color>",
  inherits: false,
  initialValue: "#c0ffee",
});

In this example, the custom property --my-color has been registered using the syntax <color>. We can now use that property to transition a gradient on hover or focus. Notice that with the registered property the transition works, but that it doesn't with the unregistered property!

css
.registered {
  --my-color: #c0ffee;
  background-image: linear-gradient(to right, #fff, var(--my-color));
  transition: --my-color 1s ease-in-out;
}

.registered:hover,
.registered:focus {
  --my-color: #b4d455;
}

.unregistered {
  --unregistered: #c0ffee;
  background-image: linear-gradient(to right, #fff, var(--unregistered));
  transition: --unregistered 1s ease-in-out;
}

.unregistered:hover,
.unregistered:focus {
  --unregistered: #b4d455;
}
button {
  font-size: 3vw;
}

We can add these styles to some buttons:

html
<button class="registered">Background Registered</button>
<button class="unregistered">Background Not Registered</button>

Specifications

Specification
CSS Properties and Values API Level 1
# the-registerproperty-function

Browser compatibility

BCD tables only load in the browser

See also