What Does the CSS `initial` Value Really Do?
Use of 'Initial' Value in CSS: Explained
The 'initial' value in CSS has been a source of confusion for many developers. It's often misunderstood as representing the browser's default style, which is not always the case.
Definition of 'Initial'
According to CSS specifications, 'initial' refers to the specified initial value of a property, as defined in the property's documentation. This value is unrelated to the browser's default style or the element's original value.
Example: 'display' Property
In the case of the 'display' property, 'initial' always means 'inline' because that is the designated initial value. In the example provided:
div.inline {
display: inline;
}
div.initial {
display: initial;
}Limited Usefulness of 'Initial'
While 'initial' can be useful for restoring the specified initial value of a property, its usefulness is limited by the following factors:
- Confusing behavior: Its meaning varies depending on the property, unlike the 'browser default' value.
- Limited support: It is not supported in Internet Explorer (including IE 10).
Specific Use Cases
Some potential use cases for 'initial' include:
- Setting the 'color' property to 'initial' to revert to the browser's default (which may vary)
- Setting the 'font-family' property to 'initial' to use the browser's default font (which may vary based on user settings)
The above is the detailed content of What Does the CSS `initial` Value Really Do?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!
Hot AI Tools
Undresser.AI Undress
AI-powered app for creating realistic nude photos
AI Clothes Remover
Online AI tool for removing clothes from photos.
Undress AI Tool
Undress images for free
Clothoff.io
AI clothes remover
Video Face Swap
Swap faces in any video effortlessly with our completely free AI face swap tool!
Hot Article
Hot Tools
Notepad++7.3.1
Easy-to-use and free code editor
SublimeText3 Chinese version
Chinese version, very easy to use
Zend Studio 13.0.1
Powerful PHP integrated development environment
Dreamweaver CS6
Visual web development tools
SublimeText3 Mac version
God-level code editing software (SublimeText3)
Hot Topics
1393
52
1205
24
Vue 3
Apr 02, 2025 pm 06:32 PM
It's out! Congrats to the Vue team for getting it done, I know it was a massive effort and a long time coming. All new docs, as well.
Building an Ethereum app using Redwood.js and Fauna
Mar 28, 2025 am 09:18 AM
With the recent climb of Bitcoin’s price over 20k $USD, and to it recently breaking 30k, I thought it’s worth taking a deep dive back into creating Ethereum
Can you get valid CSS property values from the browser?
Apr 02, 2025 pm 06:17 PM
I had someone write in with this very legit question. Lea just blogged about how you can get valid CSS properties themselves from the browser. That's like this.
A bit on ci/cd
Apr 02, 2025 pm 06:21 PM
I'd say "website" fits better than "mobile app" but I like this framing from Max Lynch:
Stacked Cards with Sticky Positioning and a Dash of Sass
Apr 03, 2025 am 10:30 AM
The other day, I spotted this particularly lovely bit from Corey Ginnivan’s website where a collection of cards stack on top of one another as you scroll.
Using Markdown and Localization in the WordPress Block Editor
Apr 02, 2025 am 04:27 AM
If we need to show documentation to the user directly in the WordPress editor, what is the best way to do it?
Comparing Browsers for Responsive Design
Apr 02, 2025 pm 06:25 PM
There are a number of these desktop apps where the goal is showing your site at different dimensions all at the same time. So you can, for example, be writing
Why are the purple slashed areas in the Flex layout mistakenly considered 'overflow space'?
Apr 05, 2025 pm 05:51 PM
Questions about purple slash areas in Flex layouts When using Flex layouts, you may encounter some confusing phenomena, such as in the developer tools (d...
