font-synthesis-small-caps

Baseline 2023

Newly available

Since March 2023, this feature works across the latest devices and browser versions. This feature might not work in older devices or browsers.

The font-synthesis-small-caps CSS property lets you specify whether or not the browser may synthesize small-caps typeface when it is missing in a font family. Small-caps glyphs typically use the form of uppercase letters but are reduced to the size of lowercase letters.

It is often convenient to use the shorthand property font-synthesis to control all typeface synthesis values.

Syntax

css
/* Keyword values */
font-synthesis-small-caps: auto;
font-synthesis-small-caps: none;

/* Global values */
font-synthesis-small-caps: inherit;
font-synthesis-small-caps: initial;
font-synthesis-small-caps: revert;
font-synthesis-small-caps: revert-layer;
font-synthesis-small-caps: unset;

Values

auto

Indicates that the missing small-caps typeface may be synthesized by the browser if needed.

none

Indicates that the synthesis of the missing small-caps typeface by the browser is not allowed.

Formal definition

Initial valueauto
Applies toall elements and text. It also applies to ::first-letter and ::first-line.
Inheritedyes
Computed valueas specified
Animation typediscrete

Formal syntax

font-synthesis-small-caps = 
  auto  |
  none

Examples

Disabling synthesis of small-caps typeface

This example shows turning off synthesis of the small-caps typeface by the browser in the Montserrat font.

HTML

html
<p class="english">
  These are the default <span class="small-caps">small-caps</span>,
  <strong>bold</strong>, and <em>oblique</em> typefaces.
</p>

<p class="english no-syn">
  The <span class="small-caps">small-caps</span> typeface is turned off here but
  not the <strong>bold</strong> and <em>oblique</em> typefaces.
</p>

CSS

css
@import url("https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Montserrat&display=swap");

.english {
  font-family: "Montserrat", sans-serif;
}
.small-caps {
  font-variant: small-caps;
}
.no-syn {
  font-synthesis-small-caps: none;
}

Result

Specifications

Specification
CSS Fonts Module Level 4
# font-synthesis-small-caps

Browser compatibility

BCD tables only load in the browser

See also