Web/CSS/@font-face/font-display

The font-display descriptor determines how a font face is displayed based on whether and when it is downloaded and ready to use.

Syntax

/* Keyword values */
font-display: auto;
font-display: block;
font-display: swap;
font-display: fallback;
font-display: optional;

Values

auto: The font display strategy is defined by the user agent.
block: Gives the font face a short block period and an infinite swap period.
swap: Gives the font face an extremely small block period and an infinite swap period.
fallback: Gives the font face an extremely small block period and a short swap period.
optional: Gives the font face an extremely small block period and no swap period.

Description

The font display timeline

The font display timeline is based on a timer that begins the moment the user agent attempts to use a given downloaded font face. The timeline is divided into the three periods below which dictate the rendering behavior of any elements using the font face.

Font block period: If the font face is not loaded, any element attempting to use it must render an invisible fallback font face. If the font face successfully loads during this period, it is used normally.
Font swap period: If the font face is not loaded, any element attempting to use it must render a fallback font face. If the font face successfully loads during this period, it is used normally.
Font failure period: If the font face is not loaded, the user agent treats it as a failed load causing normal font fallback.

Formal definition

Related at-rule	`@font-face`
Initial value	`auto`
Computed value	as specified

Formal syntax

[ auto | block | swap | fallback | optional ]

Examples

Specifying fallback font-display

@font-face {
  font-family: ExampleFont;
  src: url(/path/to/fonts/examplefont.woff) format('woff'),
       url(/path/to/fonts/examplefont.eot) format('eot');
  font-weight: 400;
  font-style: normal;
  font-display: fallback;
}

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
CSS Fonts Module Level 4The definition of 'font-display' in that specification.	Working Draft	Initial definition

Browser compatibility

Update compatibility data on GitHub

	Desktop						Mobile
	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Internet Explorer	Opera	Safari	Android webview	Chrome for Android	Firefox for Android	Opera for Android	Safari on iOS	Samsung Internet
`font-display`	Chrome Full support 72	Edge Full support 79	Firefox Full support 58	IE No support No	Opera Full support 60	Safari Full support 11.1	WebView Android Full support 72	Chrome Android Full support 72	Firefox Android Full support 58	Opera Android Full support 51	Safari iOS Full support 11.3	Samsung Internet Android Full support 11.0

Legend

Full support: Full support
No support: No support