This is an experimental technology
Check the Browser compatibility table carefully before using this in production.
The initial-letter
CSS property specifies styling for dropped, raised, and sunken initial letters.
/* Keyword values */ initial-letter: normal; /* Numeric values */ initial-letter: 1.5; /* Initial letter occupies 1.5 lines */ initial-letter: 3.0; /* Initial letter occupies 3 lines */ initial-letter: 3.0 2; /* Initial letter occupies 3 lines and sinks 2 lines */ /* Global values */ initial-letter: inherit; initial-letter: initial; initial-letter: unset;
Initial value | normal |
---|---|
Applies to | ::first-letter pseudo-elements and inline-level first child of a block container |
Inherited | no |
Media | visual |
Computed value | as specified |
Animation type | discrete |
Canonical order | the unique non-ambiguous order defined by the formal grammar |
Syntax
The keyword value normal
, or a <number>
optionally followed by an <integer>
.
Values
normal
- No special initial-letter effect. Text behaves as normal.
<number>
- Defines the size of the initial letter, in terms of how many lines it occupies. Negative values are not allowed.
<integer>
- Defines the number of lines the initial letter should sink when the size of it is given. Values must be greater than zero. If omitted, it duplicates the size value, floored to the nearest positive whole number.
Formal syntax
normal | [ <number> <integer>? ]
Example
CSS content
.normal { initial-letter: normal; } .onefive { initial-letter: 1.5; } .three { initial-letter: 3.0; }
HTML content
<p class="normal">Initial letter is normal</p> <p class="onefive">Initial letter occupies 1.5 lines</p> <p class="three">Initial letter occupies 3 lines</p>
Output
Specifications
Specification | Status | Comment |
---|---|---|
CSS Inline Layout The definition of 'initial-letter' in that specification. |
Working Draft | Initial definition |
Browser compatibility
The compatibility table on this page is generated from structured data. If you'd like to contribute to the data, please check out https://github.com/mdn/browser-compat-data and send us a pull request.
Feature | Chrome | Edge | Firefox | Internet Explorer | Opera | Safari |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Basic support | No | ? | No1 | No | No | 9 |
Feature | Android webview | Chrome for Android | Edge mobile | Firefox for Android | Opera Android | iOS Safari | Samsung Internet |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Basic support | No | No | ? | No1 | No | 9 | No |
1. See bug 1223880