• CSS
  • Your first website: Styling the content
  • Challenge: Styling a biography page
  • Combinators
  • Sizing items in CSS
  • Styling tables
  • Challenge: A cool-looking box
  • Styling links
  • Introduction to CSS layout
  • CSS grid layout
  • CSS reference
  • Modules
    1. CSS basic user interface
    2. CSS cascading and inheritance
    3. CSS conditional rules
    4. CSS display
    5. CSS fonts
    6. CSS images
    7. CSS masking
    8. CSS namespaces
    9. CSS paged media
    10. CSS ruby layout
    11. CSS scroll-driven animations
    12. CSS shapes
    13. CSS text decoration
    14. CSS view transitions
    15. -moz-float-edge Non-standard Deprecated
    16. -moz-force-broken-image-icon Non-standard Deprecated
    17. -moz-image-region Non-standard
    18. -moz-orient Non-standard
    19. -moz-user-focus Non-standard Deprecated
    20. -moz-user-input Non-standard Deprecated
  • -webkit-*
    1. -webkit-border-before Non-standard
    2. -webkit-box-reflect Non-standard
    3. -webkit-mask-box-image Non-standard
    4. -webkit-mask-composite Non-standard
    5. -webkit-mask-position-x Non-standard
    6. -webkit-mask-position-y Non-standard
    7. -webkit-mask-repeat-x Non-standard
    8. -webkit-mask-repeat-y Non-standard
    9. -webkit-tap-highlight-color Non-standard
    10. -webkit-text-security Non-standard
    11. -webkit-touch-callout Non-standard
  • align-items
  • anchor-name Experimental
  • animation-*
    1. animation-direction
    2. animation-name
    3. animation-range Experimental
    4. animation-range-end Experimental
    5. animation-range-start Experimental
    6. animation-timeline Experimental
    7. backdrop-filter
    8. background-blend-mode
    9. background-origin
    10. background-repeat
    11. border-block
    12. border-block-end-style
    13. border-block-start-style
    14. border-bottom
    15. border-bottom-style
    16. border-end-end-radius
    17. border-image-repeat
    18. border-inline
    19. border-inline-end-style
    20. border-inline-start-style
    21. border-left
    22. border-radius
    23. border-right-width
    24. border-style
    25. border-top-right-radius
    26. bottom
    27. box-*
      1. box-align Non-standard Deprecated
      2. box-direction Non-standard Deprecated
      3. box-flex Non-standard Deprecated
      4. box-flex-group Non-standard Deprecated
      5. box-lines Non-standard Deprecated
      6. box-ordinal-group Non-standard Deprecated
      7. box-orient Non-standard Deprecated
      8. box-pack Non-standard Deprecated
      9. break-before
      10. clear
      11. clip-*
        1. clip Deprecated
        2. color-interpolation
        3. column-fill
        4. column-rule-style
        5. columns
        6. contain-*
          1. contain-intrinsic-inline-size
          2. container-name
          3. counter-increment
          4. cx
          5. display
          6. field-sizing Experimental
          7. fill-*
            1. filter
            2. flex-*
              1. flex-flow
              2. float
              3. font-family
              4. font-optical-sizing
              5. font-smooth Non-standard
              6. font-stretch Deprecated
              7. font-synthesis-position Experimental
              8. font-variant
              9. font-variant-emoji
              10. font-variation-settings
              11. grid
              12. grid-auto-rows
              13. grid-row
              14. grid-template-areas
              15. height
              16. image-orientation
              17. image-resolution Experimental
            3. inset-block
            4. inset-inline-end
            5. interpolate-size Experimental
            6. justify-self
          8. line-break
          9. line-height-step Experimental
        7. list-*
          1. list-style-type
        8. margin-*
          1. margin-block-start
          2. margin-inline-start
          3. margin-trim Experimental
        9. marker-*
          1. marker-start
        10. mask-*
          1. mask-border-outset
          2. mask-border-width
          3. mask-mode
          4. mask-size
          5. math-shift Experimental
          6. max-inline-size
          7. min-inline-size
          8. object-position
          9. offset-*
            1. offset-path
            2. order
            3. outline-offset
            4. overflow-anchor
            5. overflow-wrap
            6. overlay Experimental
            7. overscroll-*
              1. overscroll-behavior-x
              2. padding-block-end
              3. padding-inline-end
              4. padding-top
            8. page-*
              1. page-break-after Deprecated
              2. page-break-before Deprecated
              3. page-break-inside Deprecated
            9. place-content
            10. position
            11. position-anchor Experimental
            12. position-area Experimental
            13. position-try Experimental
            14. position-try-fallbacks Experimental
            15. position-try-order Experimental
            16. position-visibility Experimental
          10. resize
          11. ruby-align
          12. scale
          13. scroll-*
            1. scroll-margin-block-end
            2. scroll-margin-inline-end
            3. scroll-margin-top
            4. scroll-padding-block-start
            5. scroll-padding-inline-start
            6. scroll-snap-align
            7. scroll-timeline Experimental
            8. scroll-timeline-axis Experimental
            9. scroll-timeline-name Experimental
          14. scrollbar-*
            1. shape-image-threshold
            2. speak-as Experimental
            3. stroke-dasharray
            4. stroke-miterlimit
            5. table-layout
            6. text-*
              1. text-box
              2. text-decoration
              3. text-decoration-skip Experimental
              4. text-emphasis
              5. text-indent
              6. text-rendering
              7. text-size-adjust Experimental
              8. text-spacing-trim Experimental
              9. text-wrap
              10. timeline-scope Experimental
              11. transform-box
              12. transition-behavior
              13. transition-timing-function
            7. user-modify Non-standard Deprecated
            8. view-timeline Experimental
            9. view-timeline-axis Experimental
            10. view-timeline-inset Experimental
            11. view-timeline-name Experimental
            12. white-space-collapse
            13. word-break
            14. y
            15. Attribute selectors
            16. Universal selectors
          15. Combinators
            1. Column combinator Experimental
            2. Selector list
            3. :-moz-broken Non-standard Deprecated
            4. :-moz-drag-over Non-standard
            5. :-moz-first-node Experimental Non-standard
            6. :-moz-handler-blocked Non-standard
            7. :-moz-handler-crashed Non-standard
            8. :-moz-handler-disabled Non-standard
            9. :-moz-last-node Experimental Non-standard
            10. :-moz-loading Non-standard
            11. :-moz-locale-dir(ltr) Non-standard
            12. :-moz-locale-dir(rtl) Non-standard
            13. :-moz-only-whitespace Non-standard
            14. :-moz-submit-invalid Non-standard
            15. :-moz-suppressed Non-standard
            16. :-moz-user-disabled Non-standard
            17. :-moz-window-inactive Non-standard
          16. :blank Experimental
          17. :current Experimental
          18. :disabled
          19. :first-child
          20. :focus-within
        11. :has()
        12. :hover
        13. :is()
        14. :left
        15. :local-link Experimental
        16. :nth-child()
        17. :only-child
        18. :out-of-range
        19. :placeholder-shown
        20. :read-write
        21. :scope
        22. :target
        23. :target-within Experimental
        24. :visited
        25. ::-moz-color-swatch Non-standard
        26. ::-moz-focus-inner Experimental Non-standard
        27. ::-moz-list-bullet Experimental Non-standard
        28. ::-moz-list-number Experimental Non-standard
        29. ::-moz-meter-bar Non-standard
        30. ::-moz-progress-bar Experimental Non-standard
        31. ::-moz-range-progress Non-standard
        32. ::-moz-range-thumb Non-standard
        33. ::-moz-range-track Non-standard
      12. ::-webkit-*
        1. ::-webkit-inner-spin-button Non-standard
        2. ::-webkit-meter-bar Non-standard Deprecated
        3. ::-webkit-meter-even-less-good-value Non-standard
        4. ::-webkit-meter-inner-element Non-standard
        5. ::-webkit-meter-optimum-value Non-standard
        6. ::-webkit-meter-suboptimum-value Non-standard
        7. ::-webkit-progress-bar Non-standard
        8. ::-webkit-progress-inner-element Non-standard
        9. ::-webkit-progress-value Non-standard
        10. ::-webkit-scrollbar Non-standard
        11. ::-webkit-search-cancel-button Non-standard
        12. ::-webkit-search-results-button Non-standard
        13. ::-webkit-slider-runnable-track Non-standard
        14. ::-webkit-slider-thumb Non-standard
      13. ::cue
      14. ::first-line
      15. ::part()
      16. ::spelling-error
      17. ::view-transition-image-pair
      18. @color-profile
      19. @document Non-standard Deprecated
      20. @import
      21. @namespace
      22. @position-try Experimental
      23. @supports
      24. -moz-image-rect Non-standard Deprecated
      25. anchor-size() Experimental
      26. anchor() Experimental
      27. attr()
      28. calc-size() Experimental
      29. color-mix()
      30. cos()
      31. cubic-bezier()
      32. element() Experimental
      33. fit-content()
      34. hwb()
      35. inset()
      36. lch()
      37. log()
      38. min()
      39. oklch()
      40. palette-mix() Experimental
      41. scale3d()
      42. scroll() Experimental
      43. sin()
      44. steps()
      45. translateZ()
      46. view() Experimental
      47. <angle-percentage>
      48. <blend-mode>
      49. <color-interpolation-method>
      50. <custom-ident>
      51. <display-inside>
      52. <display-outside>
      53. <frequency-percentage>
      54. <hex-color>
      55. <image>
      56. <line-style>
      57. <overflow>
      58. <position-area> Experimental
      59. <resolution>
      60. <shape> Deprecated
      61. <time-percentage>
      62. Guides
      63. Animations
        1. Box alignment in block layout
        2. Introduction to the CSS basic box model
        3. Using relative colors
        4. Basic concepts of multi-column layout
        5. Handling content breaks in multi-column layout
      64. Conditional rules
        1. Using container size and style queries
      65. CSSOM view
        1. Introduction to formatting contexts
        2. Basic concepts of flexbox
        3. Controlling ratios of flex items along the main axis
        4. Variable fonts guide
      66. Grid
        1. Grid template areas
        2. Grids, logical values, and writing modes
        3. Masonry layout Experimental
      67. Images
        1. Basic concepts of logical properties and values
        2. Using CSS math functions
      68. Media queries
        1. Printing
      69. Nesting style rules
        1. Understanding z-index
      70. Scroll snap
        1. Basic shapes with shape-outside
        2. Using CSS transitions
      71. Center an element
      72. List group with badges
      73. Color picker tool
      74. Learn more
      75. See full compatibility
  • The letter-spacing CSS property sets the horizontal spacing behavior between text characters. This value is added to the natural spacing between characters while rendering the text. Positive values of letter-spacing causes characters to spread farther apart, while negative values of letter-spacing bring characters closer together.

    Try it

    letter-spacing: normal;
    
    letter-spacing: 0.2rem;
    
    letter-spacing: 1px;
    
    letter-spacing: -1px;
    
    <section id="default-example">
      <p id="example-element">
        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>
    </section>
    
    @font-face {
      src: url("/shared-assets/fonts/variable-fonts/AmstelvarAlpha-VF.ttf");
      font-family: Amstelvar;
      font-style: normal;
    }
    
    section {
      font-size: 1.2em;
      font-family: Amstelvar;
    }
    

    Syntax

    css
    /* Keyword value */
    letter-spacing: normal;
    
    /* <length> values */
    letter-spacing: 0.3em;
    letter-spacing: 3px;
    letter-spacing: 0.3px;
    
    /* Global values */
    letter-spacing: inherit;
    letter-spacing: initial;
    letter-spacing: revert;
    letter-spacing: revert-layer;
    letter-spacing: unset;
    

    Values

    normal

    The normal letter spacing for the current font. Unlike a value of 0, this keyword allows the user agent to alter the space between characters in order to justify text.

    <length>

    Specifies extra inter-character space in addition to the default space between characters. Values may be negative, but there may be implementation-specific limits. User agents may not further increase or decrease the inter-character space in order to justify text.

    Accessibility

    A large positive or negative letter-spacing value will make the word(s) the styling is applied to unreadable. For text styled with a very large positive value, the letters will be so far apart that the word(s) will appear like a series of individual, unconnected letters. For text styled with a very large negative value, the letters will overlap each other to the point where the word(s) may be unrecognizable.

    Legible letter-spacing must be determined on a case-by-case basis, as different font families have different character widths. There is no one value that can ensure all font families automatically maintain their legibility.

    Internationalization concerns

    Some written languages should not have any letter spacing applied. For instance, languages that use the Arabic script expect connected letters to remain visually connected, as in the following example. Applying letter spacing will lead the text to look broken.

    شسيبتنمك

    Formal definition

    Inheritedyes
    |
    <length>

    Examples

    Setting letter spacing

    HTML

    html
    <p class="normal">letter spacing</p>
    <p class="em-wide">letter spacing</p>
    <p class="em-wider">letter spacing</p>
    <p class="em-tight">letter spacing</p>
    <p class="px-wide">letter spacing</p>
    

    CSS

    css
    .normal {
      letter-spacing: normal;
    }
    .em-wide {
      letter-spacing: 0.4em;
    }
    .em-wider {
      letter-spacing: 1em;
    }
    .em-tight {
      letter-spacing: -0.05em;
    }
    .px-wide {
      letter-spacing: 6px;
    }
    

    Result

    Specifications

    Specification
    Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) 2
    # LetterSpacingProperty

    Browser compatibility

    BCD tables only load in the browser

    See also