<string>

The <string> CSS data type represents a sequence of characters. Strings are used in numerous CSS properties, including content, font-family, and quotes.

Syntax

A string is composed of one or more Unicode characters surrounded by either double (") or single (') quotes.

Most characters can be represented literally. When escaped with a backslash, they can also be represented with their respective Unicode code points in hexadecimal. For example, \27 represents the single quote ('), and \A9 represents the copyright symbol (©).

Importantly, certain characters which would otherwise be invalid can be escaped with a backslash (\). These include double quotes when used inside a double-quoted string, single quotes when used inside a single-quoted string, and the backslash itself.

New lines are invalid unless escaped with a line feed character such as \A or \00000A. In your code, however, strings can span multiple lines, in which case each new line must be escaped with a "\" as the last character of the line.

Examples

/* Simple quote escaping */
"Awesome string with double quotes"
"Awesome string with \" escaped double quotes"
'Awesome string with single quotes'
"Awesome string with \' escaped single quotes"
/* New line in a string */
"Awesome string with \Aline break"
/* String spanning over two lines (these two strings are exactly the same) */
"A really long \
awesome string"
"A really long awesome string"
Note: Double-quoted strings can also be escaped using \22 and single-quoted strings can be escaped using \27.

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
CSS Values and Units Module Level 3
The definition of '<string>' in that specification.
Candidate Recommendation No significant change from CSS Level 2 (Revision 1).
CSS Level 2 (Revision 1)
The definition of '<string>' in that specification.
Recommendation Explicit definition; allows 6-digit Unicode escaped characters.
CSS Level 1
The definition of '<string>' in that specification.
Recommendation Implicit definition; allows 4-digit Unicode escaped characters.

Browser Compatibility

Feature Chrome Firefox (Gecko) Internet Explorer Opera Safari
Basic support 1.0 1.0 (1.0) (Yes) (Yes) 1.0 (85)
\xx 1.0 1.0 (1.0) 6.0 (Yes) 1.0 (85)
Feature Android Chrome for Android Firefox Mobile (Gecko) IE Mobile Opera Mobile Safari Mobile
Basic support (Yes) (Yes) (Yes) (Yes) (Yes) (Yes)
\xx (Yes) (Yes) (Yes) (Yes) (Yes) (Yes)

Document Tags and Contributors

 Contributors to this page: mfluehr, fscholz, Sebastianz, teoli, kscarfone, FredB, Sheppy, McGurk, BijuGC
 Last updated by: mfluehr,