Web/CSS/symbols()

The symbols() CSS function lets you define counter styles inline, directly as the value of a property such as list-style. Unlike @counter-style, symbols() is anonymous (i.e., it can only be used once). Although less powerful, it is shorter and easier to write than @counter-style.

Syntax

symbols() = symbols( <symbols-type>? [ <string> | <image> ]+ );

<symbols-type> can be one of the following:

cyclic: The system cycles through the given values in the order of their definition, and returns to the start when it reaches the end.
numeric: The system interprets the given values as the successive units of a place-value numbering system.
alphabetic: The system interprets the given values as the digits of an alphabetic numbering system, like a place-value numbering system but without 0.
symbolic: The system cycles through the values, printing them an additional time at each cycle (one time for the first cycle, two times for the second, etc.).
fixed: The system cycles through the given values once, then falls back to Arabic numerals.

Examples

HTML

<ol>
  <li>One</li>
  <li>Two</li>
  <li>Three</li>
  <li>Four</li>
  <li>Five</li>
</ol>

CSS

ol {
  list-style: symbols(cyclic "*" "†" "‡");
}

Result

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
CSS Counter Styles Level 3The definition of 'symbols()' in that specification.	Candidate Recommendation	Initial defintion.

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
`symbols`	Chrome No support No	Edge No support No	Firefox Full support 35	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 35	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