CSS2 Reference

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Table of contents

CSS Basic
CSS HOME
CSS Introduction
CSS Syntax
CSS How To
CSS Background
CSS Text
CSS Font
CSS Border
CSS Outline
CSS Margin
CSS Padding
CSS List
CSS Table
CSS Advanced
CSS Dimension
CSS Classification
CSS Positioning
CSS Pseudo-class
CSS Pseudo-element
CSS Image Gallery
CSS Image Opacity
CSS Media Types
CSS Don't
CSS Summary
CSS Examples
CSS Examples
References
CSS2 Reference
CSS2 Print
CSS2 Aural
CSS Units
CSS Colors
CSS Colorvalues
CSS Colornames
CSS Quiz
CSS Quiz
CSS Exam

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# CSS2 Reference

The links in the "Property" column point to more useful information about each property.

- Background
- Border
- Classification
- Dimension
- Font

- Generated Content
- List and Marker
- Margin
- Outlines
- Padding

- Positioning
- Table
- Text
- Pseudo-classes
- Pseudo-elements

Browser support: IE: Internet Explorer, M: Mac IE only, F: Firefox, N: Netscape.

W3C: The number in the "W3C" column indicates in which CSS recommendation the property is defined (CSS1 or CSS2).

## Background

Property | Description | Values | IE | F | N | W3C
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
background | A shorthand property for setting all background properties in one declaration | background-color background-image background-repeat background-attachment background-position | 4 | 1 | 6 | 1
background-attachment | Sets whether a background image is fixed or scrolls with the rest of the page | scroll fixed | 4 | 1 | 6 | 1
background-color | Sets the background color of an element | color-rgb color-hex color-name transparent | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1
background-image | Sets an image as the background | url(URL) none | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1

background-position

Sets the starting position of a background image

top left
top center
top right
center left
center center
center right
bottom left
bottom center
bottom right
x% y%
xpos ypos

4

1

6

1

background-repeat | Sets if/how a background image will be repeated | repeat repeat-x repeat-y no-repeat | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1

## Border

Property | Description | Values | IE | F | N | W3C
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
border | A shorthand property for setting all of the properties for the four borders in one declaration | border-width border-style border-color | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1
border-bottom | A shorthand property for setting all of the properties for the bottom border in one declaration | border-bottom-width border-style border-color | 4 | 1 | 6 | 1
border-bottom-color | Sets the color of the bottom border | border-color | 4 | 1 | 6 | 2
border-bottom-style | Sets the style of the bottom border | border-style | 4 | 1 | 6 | 2
border-bottom-width | Sets the width of the bottom border | thin medium thick length | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1
border-color | Sets the color of the four borders, can have from one to four colors | color | 4 | 1 | 6 | 1
border-left | A shorthand property for setting all of the properties for the left border in one declaration | border-left-width border-style border-color | 4 | 1 | 6 | 1
border-left-color | Sets the color of the left border | border-color | 4 | 1 | 6 | 2
border-left-style | Sets the style of the left border | border-style | 4 | 1 | 6 | 2
border-left-width | Sets the width of the left border | thin medium thick length | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1
border-right | A shorthand property for setting all of the properties for the right border in one declaration | border-right-width border-style border-color | 4 | 1 | 6 | 1
border-right-color | Sets the color of the right border | border-color | 4 | 1 | 6 | 2
border-right-style | Sets the style of the right border | border-style | 4 | 1 | 6 | 2
border-right-width | Sets the width of the right border | thin medium thick length | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1

border-style

Sets the style of the four borders, can have from one to four styles

none
hidden
dotted
dashed
solid
double
groove
ridge
inset
outset

4

1

6

1

border-top | A shorthand property for setting all of the properties for the top border in one declaration | border-top-width border-style border-color | 4 | 1 | 6 | 1
border-top-color | Sets the color of the top border | border-color | 4 | 1 | 6 | 2
border-top-style | Sets the style of the top border | border-style | 4 | 1 | 6 | 2
border-top-width | Sets the width of the top border | thin medium thick length | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1
border-width | A shorthand property for setting the width of the four borders in one declaration, can have from one to four values | thin medium thick length | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1

## Classification

Property | Description | Values | IE | F | N | W3C
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
clear | Sets the sides of an element where other floating elements are not allowed | left right both none | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1

cursor

Specifies the type of cursor to be displayed

url
auto
crosshair
default
pointer
move
e-resize
ne-resize
nw-resize
n-resize
se-resize
sw-resize
s-resize
w-resize
text
wait
help

4

1

6

2

display

Sets how/if an element is displayed

none
inline
block
list-item
run-in
compact
marker
table
inline-table
table-row-group
table-header-group
table-footer-group
table-row
table-column-group
table-column
table-cell
table-caption

4

1

4

1

float | Sets where an image or a text will appear in another element | left right none | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1
position | Places an element in a static, relative, absolute or fixed position | static relative absolute fixed | 4 | 1 | 4 | 2
visibility | Sets if an element should be visible or invisible | visible hidden collapse | 4 | 1 | 6 | 2

## Dimension

Property | Description | Values | IE | F | N | W3C
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
height | Sets the height of an element | auto length % | 4 | 1 | 6 | 1
line-height | Sets the distance between lines | normal number length % | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1
max-height | Sets the maximum height of an element | none length % | - | 1 | 6 | 2
max-width | Sets the maximum width of an element | none length % | - | 1 | 6 | 2
min-height | Sets the minimum height of an element | length % | - | 1 | 6 | 2
min-width | Sets the minimum width of an element | length % | - | 1 | 6 | 2
width | Sets the width of an element | auto % length | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1

## Font

Property | Description | Values | IE | F | N | W3C
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---

font

A shorthand property for setting all of the properties for a font in one declaration

font-style
font-variant
font-weight
font-size/line-height
font-family
caption
icon
menu
message-box
small-caption
status-bar

4

1

4

1

font-family | A prioritized list of font family names and/or generic family names for an element | family-name generic-family | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1

font-size

Sets the size of a font

xx-small
x-small
small
medium
large
x-large
xx-large
smaller
larger
length
%

3

1

4

1

font-size-adjust | Specifies an aspect value for an element that will preserve the x-height of the first-choice font | none number | - | 1 | - | 2

font-stretch

Condenses or expands the current font-family

normal
wider
narrower
ultra-condensed
extra-condensed
condensed
semi-condensed
semi-expanded
expanded
extra-expanded
ultra-expanded

-

-

-

2

font-style | Sets the style of the font | normal italic oblique | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1
font-variant | Displays text in a small-caps font or a normal font | normal small-caps | 4 | 1 | 6 | 1

font-weight

Sets the weight of a font

normal
bold
bolder
lighter
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900

4

1

4

1

## Generated Content

Property | Description | Values | IE | F | N | W3C
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---

content

Generates content in a document. Used with the :before and :after pseudo-elements

string
url
counter(name)
counter(name, list-style-type)
counters(name, string)
counters(name, string, list-style-type)
attr(X)
open-quote
close-quote
no-open-quote
no-close-quote

1

6

2

counter-increment | Sets how much the counter increments on each occurrence of a selector | none identifier number |  |  |  | 2
counter-reset | Sets the value the counter is set to on each occurrence of a selector | none identifier number |  |  |  | 2
quotes | Sets the type of quotation marks | none string string | - | 1 | 6 | 2

## List and Marker

Property | Description | Values | IE | F | N | W3C
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
list-style | A shorthand property for setting all of the properties for a list in one declaration | list-style-type list-style-position list-style-image | 4 | 1 | 6 | 1
list-style-image | Sets an image as the list-item marker | none url | 4 | 1 | 6 | 1
list-style-position | Sets where the list-item marker is placed in the list | inside outside | 4 | 1 | 6 | 1

list-style-type

Sets the type of the list-item marker

none
disc
circle
square
decimal
decimal-leading-zero
lower-roman
upper-roman
lower-alpha
upper-alpha
lower-greek
lower-latin
upper-latin
hebrew
armenian
georgian
cjk-ideographic
hiragana
katakana
hiragana-iroha
katakana-iroha

4

1

4

1

marker-offset |  | auto length |  | 1 | 7 | 2

## Margin

Property | Description | Values | IE | F | N | W3C
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
margin | A shorthand property for setting the margin properties in one declaration | margin-top margin-right margin-bottom margin-left | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1
margin-bottom | Sets the bottom margin of an element | auto length % | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1
margin-left | Sets the left margin of an element | auto length % | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1
margin-right | Sets the right margin of an element | auto length % | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1
margin-top | Sets the top margin of an element | auto length % | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1

## Outlines

Property | Description | Values | IE | F | N | W3C
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
outline | A shorthand property for setting all the outline properties in one declaration | outline-color outline-style outline-width | - | 1.5 | - | 2
outline-color | Sets the color of the outline around an element | color invert | - | 1.5 | - | 2

outline-style

Sets the style of the outline around an element

none
dotted
dashed
solid
double
groove
ridge
inset
outset

-

1.5

-

2

outline-width | Sets the width of the outline around an element | thin medium thick length | - | 1.5 | - | 2

## Padding

Property | Description | Values | IE | F | N | W3C
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
padding | A shorthand property for setting all of the padding properties in one declaration | padding-top padding-right padding-bottom padding-left | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1
padding-bottom | Sets the bottom padding of an element | length % | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1
padding-left | Sets the left padding of an element | length % | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1
padding-right | Sets the right padding of an element | length % | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1
padding-top | Sets the top padding of an element | length % | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1

## Positioning

Property | Description | Values | IE | F | N | W3C
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
bottom | Sets how far the bottom edge of an element is above/below the bottom edge of the parent element | auto % length | 5 | 1 | 6 | 2
clip | Sets the shape of an element. The element is clipped into this shape, and displayed | shape auto | 4 | 1 | 6 | 2
left | Sets how far the left edge of an element is to the right/left of the left edge of the parent element | auto % length | 4 | 1 | 4 | 2
overflow | Sets what happens if the content of an element overflow its area | visible hidden scroll auto | 4 | 1 | 6 | 2
position | Places an element in a static, relative, absolute or fixed position | static relative absolute fixed | 4 | 1 | 4 | 2
right | Sets how far the right edge of an element is to the left/right of the right edge of the parent element | auto % length | 5 | 1 | 6 | 2
top | Sets how far the top edge of an element is above/below the top edge of the parent element | auto % length | 4 | 1 | 4 | 2

vertical-align

Sets the vertical alignment of an element

baseline
sub
super
top
text-top
middle
bottom
text-bottom
length
%

4

1

4

1

z-index | Sets the stack order of an element | auto number | 4 | 1 | 6 | 2

## Table

Property | Description | Values | IE | F | N | W3C
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
border-collapse | Sets whether the table borders are collapsed into a single border or detached as in standard HTML | collapse separate | 5 | 1 | 7 | 2
border-spacing | Sets the distance that separates cell borders (only for the "separated borders" model) | length length | 5M | 1 | 6 | 2
caption-side | Sets the position of the table caption | top bottom left right | 5M | 1 | 6 | 2
empty-cells | Sets whether or not to show empty cells in a table (only for the "separated borders" model) | show hide | 5M | 1 | 6 | 2
table-layout | Sets the algorithm used to display the table cells, rows, and columns | auto fixed | 5 | 1 | 6 | 2

## Text

Property | Description | Values | IE | F | N | W3C
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
color | Sets the color of a text | color | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1
direction | Sets the text direction | ltr rtl | 6 | 1 | 6 | 2
line-height | Sets the distance between lines | normal number length % | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1
letter-spacing | Increase or decrease the space between characters | normal length | 4 | 1 | 6 | 1
text-align | Aligns the text in an element | left right center justify | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1
text-decoration | Adds decoration to text | none underline overline line-through blink | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1
text-indent | Indents the first line of text in an element | length % | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1
text-shadow |  | none color length |  |  |  |
text-transform | Controls the letters in an element | none capitalize uppercase lowercase | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1
unicode-bidi |  | normal embed bidi-override | 5 |  |  | 2
white-space | Sets how white space inside an element is handled | normal pre nowrap | 5 | 1 | 4 | 1
word-spacing | Increase or decrease the space between words | normal length | 6 | 1 | 6 | 1

## Pseudo-classes

Pseudo-class | Purpose | IE | F | N | W3C
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
:active | Adds special style to an activated element | 4 | 1 | 8 | 1
:focus | Adds special style to an element while the element has focus | - | 1.5 | 8 | 2
:hover | Adds special style to an element when you mouse over it | 4 | 1 | 7 | 1
:link | Adds special style to an unvisited link | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1
:visited | Adds special style to a visited link | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1
:first-child | Adds special style to an element that is the first child of some other element | - | 1 | 7 | 2
:lang | Allows the author to specify a language to use in a specified element | - | 1 | 8 | 2

## Pseudo-elements

Pseudo-element | Purpose | IE | F | N | W3C
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
:first-letter | Adds special style to the first letter of a text | 5 | 1 | 8 | 1
:first-line | Adds special style to the first line of a text | 5 | 1 | 8 | 1
:before | Inserts some content before an element |  | 1.5 | 8 | 2
:after | Inserts some content after an element |  | 1.5 | 8 | 2

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