font

The font CSS property is either a shorthand property for setting font-style, font-variant, font-weight, font-size, line-height, and font-family; or a way to set the element's font to a system font, using specific keywords.

/* size | family */
font: 2em "Open Sans", sans-serif;
/* style | size | family */
font: italic 2em "Open Sans", sans-serif;
/* style | variant | weight | size/line-height | family */
font: italic small-caps bolder 16px/3 cursive;
/* style | variant | weight | stretch | size/line-height | family */
font: italic small-caps bolder condensed 16px/3 cursive;
/* The font used in system dialogs */
font: message-box;
font: icon;
/* Global values */
font: inherit;
font: initial;
font: unset;

<div id="container">
<div class="subcontainer">
  <p class="example" style="font: italic 1.5em 'Open Sans', serif;">As much mud in the streets as if the waters had but newly retired from the face of the earth, and it would not be wonderful to meet a Megalosaurus, forty feet long or so, waddling like an elephantine lizard up Holborn Hill.</p>
  <p class="caption">italic 1.5em 'Open Sans', serif</p>
</div>
<div class="subcontainer">
  <p class="example" style="font: italic small-caps bold 16px/2 cursive;">As much mud in the streets as if the waters had but newly retired from the face of the earth, and it would not be wonderful to meet a Megalosaurus, forty feet long or so, waddling like an elephantine lizard up Holborn Hill.</p>
  <p class="caption">italic small-caps bold 16px/2 cursive</p>
</div>
<div class="subcontainer">
  <p class="example" style="font: 1.2em 'Open Sans', sans-serif;">As much mud in the streets as if the waters had but newly retired from the face of the earth, and it would not be wonderful to meet a Megalosaurus, forty feet long or so, waddling like an elephantine lizard up Holborn Hill.</p>
  <p class="caption">1.2em 'Open Sans', sans-serif</p>
</div>
<div class="subcontainer">
  <p class="example" style="font: small-caps bold 24px/1 sans-serif;">As much mud in the streets as if the waters had but newly retired from the face of the earth, and it would not be wonderful to meet a Megalosaurus, forty feet long or so, waddling like an elephantine lizard up Holborn Hill.</p>
  <p class="caption">small-caps bold 24px/1 sans-serif</p>
</div>
</div>

#container {
   width: 100%;
   background-color: #F4F7F8;
   display: flex;
}
p {
  margin: 10px;
  overflow: hidden;
  background-color: white;
  color: #4d9f0c;
}
.subcontainer {
}
.example {
  height: 300px;
  word-break: break-all;
}
.caption {
  margin-top: 20px;
  font-family: monospace;
  color: black;
}

As with any shorthand property, any individual value that is not specified is set to its corresponding initial value (possibly overriding values previously set using non-shorthand properties). Though not directly settable by font, the longhands font-stretch, font-size-adjust, and font-kerning are also reset to their initial values.

Syntax

The font property may be specified as either a single keyword, which will select a system font, or as a shorthand for various font-related properties.

If font is specified as a system keyword, it must be one of: caption, icon, menu, message-box, small-caption, status-bar.

If font is specified as a shorthand for several font-related properties, then:

• it must include values for:
  • <font-size>
  • <font-family>
• it may optionally include values for:
  • <font-style>
  • <font-variant>
  • <font-weight>
  • <line-height>
• font-style, font-variant and font-weight must precede font-size
• font-variant may only specify the values defined in CSS 2.1, that is normal and small-caps
• line-height must immediately follow font-size, preceded by "/", like this: "16px/3"
• font-family must be the last value specified.

Values

<'font-style'>

See the font-style CSS property.

<'font-variant'>

See the font-variant CSS property.

<'font-weight'>

See the font-weight CSS property.

<'font-stretch'>

See the font-stretch CSS property.

<'font-size'>

See the font-size CSS property.

<'line-height'>

See the line-height CSS property.

<'font-family'>

See the font-family CSS property.

caption

The system font used for captioned controls (e.g., buttons, drop-downs, etc.).

icon

The system font used to label icons.

menu

The system font used in menus (e.g., dropdown menus and menu lists).

message-box

The system font used in dialog boxes.

small-caption

The system font used for labeling small controls.

status-bar

The system font used in window status bars.

Prefixed system font keywords

Browsers often implement several more, prefixed, keywords: Gecko implements -moz-window, -moz-document, -moz-desktop, -moz-info, -moz-dialog, -moz-button, -moz-pull-down-menu, -moz-list, and -moz-field.

Formal syntax

[ [ <'font-style'> || <font-variant-css21> || <'font-weight'> || <'font-stretch'> ]? <'font-size'> [ / <'line-height'> ]? <'font-family'> ] | caption | icon | menu | message-box | small-caption | status-bar
where 
<font-variant-css21> = [ normal | small-caps ]

Examples

/* Set the font size to 12px and the line height to 14px.
   Set the font family to sans-serif */
p { font: 12px/14px sans-serif }
/* Set the font size to 80% of the parent element
   or default value (if no parent element present).
   Set the font family to sans-serif */
p { font: 80% sans-serif }
/* Set the font weight to bold,
   the font-style to italic,
   the font size to large,
   and the font family to serif. */
p { font: bold italic large serif }
/* Use the same font as the status bar of the window */
p { font: status-bar }

Live sample

HTML Content

<p>
    Change the radio buttons below to see the generated shorthand and it's effect.
</p>
<form action="createShortHand()">
    <div class="cf">
        <div class="setPropCont">
            font-style<br/>
            <input type="radio" id="font-style-none" name="font_style" checked="" value="" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-style-none">none</label><br/>
            <input type="radio" id="font-style-normal" name="font_style" value="normal" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-style-normal">normal</label><br/>
            <input type="radio" id="font-style-italic" name="font_style" value="italic" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-style-italic">italic</label><br/>
            <input type="radio" id="font-style-oblique" name="font_style" value="oblique" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-style-oblique">oblique</label>
        </div>
        
        <div class="setPropCont">
            font-variant<br>
            <input type="radio" id="font-variant-none" name="font_variant" checked="" value=" " onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-variant-none">none</label><br/>
            <input type="radio" id="font-variant-normal" name="font_variant" value="normal" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-variant-normal">normal</label><br/>
            <input type="radio" id="font-variant-small-caps" name="font_variant" value="small-caps" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-variant-small-caps">small-caps</label>
        </div>
        
        <div class="setPropCont">
            font-weight<br/>
            <input type="radio" id="font-weight-none" name="font_weight" value="" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-weight-none">none</label><br/>
            <input type="radio" id="font-weight-normal" checked="" name="font_weight" value="400" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-weight-normal">normal</label><br/>
            <input type="radio" id="font-weight-bold" name="font_weight" value="700" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-weight-bold">bold</label>
        </div>
        
        <div class="setPropCont">
            font-size<br/>
            <input type="radio" id="font-size-12px" name="font_size" value="12px" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-size-12px">12px</label><br/>
            <input type="radio" id="font-size-16px" name="font_size" value="16px" checked="" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-size-16px">16px</label><br/>
            <input type="radio" id="font-size-24px" name="font_size" value="24px" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-size-24px">24px</label>
        </div>
        
        <div class="setPropCont">
            line-height<br/>
            <input type="radio" id="line-height-none" name="line_height" checked="" value="" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="line-height-none">none</label><br/>
            <input type="radio" id="line-height-1.2" name="line_height" value="/1.2" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="line-height-1.2">1.2</label><br/>
            <input type="radio" id="line-height-3" name="line_height" value="/3" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="line-height-3">3</label>
        </div><br/>
        <div class="setPropCont fontfamily">
            font-family<br/>
            <input type="radio" id="font-family-courier" name="font_family" checked="" value="courier" onchange="setCss(5,'courier')"> <label for="font-family-courier">courier</label><br/>            <input type="radio" id="font-family-serif" name="font_family" value="serif" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-family-serif">serif</label><br />
            <input type="radio" id="font-family-sans-serif" name="font_family" value="sans-serif" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-family-sans-serif">sans-serif</label><br />            <input type="radio" id="font-family-arial" name="font_family" value="arial" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-family-arial">Arial</label><br />
            <input type="radio" id="font-family-monospace" name="font_family" value="monospace" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-family-monospace">monospace</label><br />            <input type="radio" id="font-family-cursive" name="font_family" value="cursive" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-family-cursive">cursive</label><br />
            <input type="radio" id="font-family-fantasy" name="font_family" value="fantasy" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-family-fantasy">fantasy</label><br />            <input type="radio" id="font-family-system-ui" name="font_family" value="system-ui" onchange="setCss()"> <label for="font-family-system-ui">system-ui</label><br />
        </div>
    </div>
    <div class="cf propInputs">
        <div class="propInputCont tar">
            font :
        </div>
        <div class="propInputCont">
            <input type="text" class="curCss" id="input_font_style"><br/>
            font-style <br/>
            optional
        
        </div>
        <div class="propInputCont">
            <input type="text" class="curCss" id="input_font_variant"> <br/>
            font-variant <br/>
            optional
        </div>
        <div class="propInputCont">
            <input type="text" class="curCss" id="input_font_weight"> <br/>
            font-weight <br/>
            optional
        </div>
        <div class="propInputCont">
            <input type="text" class="curCss mandatory" id="input_font_size"> <br/>
            font-size <br/>
            mandatory
        </div>
        <div class="propInputCont">
            <input type="text" class="curCss" id="input_line_height"> <br/>
            line-height <br/>
            optional
        </div>
        <div class="propInputCont">
            <input type="text" class="curCss mandatory" id="input_font_family"> <br/>
            font-family <br/>
            mandatory
        </div>
    </div>
</form>
<div class="fontShortHand">
    This is some sample text.
</div>
<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>

CSS Content

body, input {
  font: 14px arial;
  overflow: hidden;
}
.propInputCont {
  float: left;
  text-align: center;
  margin-right: 5px;
  width: 80px;
}
.setPropCont {
  float: left;
  margin-right: 5px;
  width: 120px;
}
.propInputs, .setPropCont {
  margin-bottom: 1em;
}
.curCss {
  border: none;
  border-bottom: 1px solid black;
  text-align: center;
  width: 80px;
}
.mandatory {
  border-bottom-color: red;
}
.cf:before,
.cf:after {
  content: " ";
  display: table;
}
.cf:after {
  clear: both;
}
.tar {
  width: 40px;
  text-align: right;
}
.fontfamily {
  display: inline-block;
}

JavaScript Content

var textAreas = document.getElementsByClassName("curCss"),
    shortText = "",
    getCheckedValue,
    setCss,
    getProperties,
    injectCss;
getProperties = function () {
  shortText =
      getCheckedValue("font_style") + " " +
      getCheckedValue("font_variant") + " " +
      getCheckedValue("font_weight") + " " +
      getCheckedValue("font_size") +
      getCheckedValue("line_height") + " " +
      getCheckedValue("font_family");
  return shortText;
}
getCheckedValue = function(radio_name) {
  oRadio = document.forms[0].elements[radio_name];
  for (var i = 0; i < oRadio.length; i++) {
    if(oRadio[i].checked) {
      var propInput = "input_" + radio_name,
          curElemName = "input_" + radio_name,
          curElem = document.getElementById(curElemName);
      curElem.value = oRadio[i].value;
      return oRadio[i].value;
    }
  }
}
setCss = function () {
  getProperties();
  injectCss(shortText);
}
injectCss = function(cssFragment) {
  old = document.body.getElementsByTagName("style");
  if (old.length > 1) {
    old[1].parentElement.removeChild(old[1]);
  }
  css = document.createElement("style");
  css.innerHTML = ".fontShortHand{font: " + cssFragment + "}";
  document.body.appendChild(css);
}
setCss();

Specifications

Browser compatibility