CSS text-emphasis Property Reference

The CSS text-emphasis property is a standard property in CSS Text Decoration. Review its formal syntax, computed behavior, and practical declarations.

Updated 2026-08-12

text-emphasis overview

The CSS text-emphasis property is a standard property in CSS Text Decoration. Review its formal syntax, computed behavior, and practical declarations.

The computed value normally inherits from the parent element when no declaration wins the cascade.

Syntax and formal definition

text-emphasis formal syntax

Field	Value
Formal syntax	<'text-emphasis-style'> \|\| <'text-emphasis-color'>
Initial value	text-emphasis-style, text-emphasis-color
Applies to	allElements
Inherited	Yes
Percentages	no
Computed value	text-emphasis-style, text-emphasis-color
Animation type	text-emphasis-color, text-emphasis-style
Media	visual
Specification group	CSS Text Decoration
Status	Standard

Practical examples

These declarations demonstrate valid ways to set text-emphasis. The initial and inherit global keywords remain available even when a property-specific value is preferable.

text-emphasis live example

CSS

.reset-example {
  text-emphasis: initial;
}

.inherit-example {
  text-emphasis: inherit;
}

@supports (text-emphasis: initial) {
  .supported {
    text-emphasis: initial;
  }
}