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

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

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.

Note: In Firefox, the preferences gfx.downloadable_fonts.fallback_delay and gfx.downloadable_fonts.fallback_delay_short provide the duration of the "short" and "extremely small" periods, respectively.

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
CSS Fonts Module Level 4 # font-display-desc

See also

font-family font-stretch font-style font-weight font-variant font-feature-settings font-variation-settings src unicode-range

Last modified: Aug 12, 2021, by MDN contributors

Select your preferred language English (US)EspañolFrançais日本語한국어Русский中文 (简体) Change language