Web/CSS/font-variant-position

The font-variant-position CSS property controls the use of alternate, smaller glyphs that are positioned as superscript or subscript.

The glyphs are positioned relative to the baseline of the font, which remains unchanged. These glyphs are typically used in <sub> and <sup> elements.

/* Keyword values */
font-variant-position: normal;
font-variant-position: sub;
font-variant-position: super;

/* Global values */
font-variant-position: inherit;
font-variant-position: initial;
font-variant-position: unset;

When the usage of these alternate glyphs is activated, if one character in the run doesn't have such a typographically-enhanced glyph, the whole set of characters of the run is rendered using a fallback method, synthesizing these glyphs.

These alternate glyphs share the same em-box and the same baseline as the rest of the font. They are merely graphically enhanced, and have no effect on the line-height and other box characteristics.

Syntax

The font-variant-position property is specified as one of the keyword values listed below.

Values

normal: Deactivates alternate superscript and subscript glyphs.
sub: Activates subscript alternate glyphs. If, in a given run, one such glyph is not available for a character, all the characters in the run are rendered using synthesized glyphs.
super: Activates superscript alternate glyphs. If, in a given run, one such glyph is not available for a character, all the characters in the run are rendered using synthesized glyphs.

Formal definition

Initial value	`normal`
Applies to	all elements. It also applies to `::first-letter` and `::first-line`.
Inherited	yes
Computed value	as specified
Animation type	discrete

Formal syntax

normal | sub | super

Examples

Setting superscript and subscript forms

HTML

<p class="normal">Normal!</p>
<p class="super">Super!</p>
<p class="sub">Sub!</p>

CSS

p {
  display: inline;
}

.normal {
  font-variant-position: normal;
}

.super {
  font-variant-position: super;
}

.sub {
  font-variant-position: sub;
}

Result

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
CSS Fonts Module Level 3The definition of 'font-variant-position' in that specification.	Candidate Recommendation	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-variant-position`	Chrome No support No	Edge No support No	Firefox Full support 34 Full support 34 No support 24 — 34 Disabled' Disabled' From version 24 until version 34 (exclusive): this feature is behind the `layout.css.font-features.enabled` preference (needs to be set to `true`). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.	IE No support No	Opera No support No	Safari No support No	WebView Android No support No	Chrome Android No support No	Firefox Android Full support 34 Full support 34 No support 24 — 34 Disabled' Disabled' From version 24 until version 34 (exclusive): this feature is behind the `layout.css.font-features.enabled` preference (needs to be set to `true`). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.	Opera Android No support No	Safari iOS No support No	Samsung Internet Android No support No

Legend

Full support: Full support
No support: No support
User must explicitly enable this feature.': User must explicitly enable this feature.

font-variant-position by Mozilla Contributors is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.5.