Stylesheets - CSS & Font Sizes

Author

CSS & Font Sizes

Mark

2007-04-22, 6:18 pm

I'm just after a bit of wisdom here.

If I specify something like

body { font-size: 1em; }

is this really the same as

body { font-size: 100%; }
?

Which is preferred, or is it a matter of taste?

And what is the difference between the above and not specifying the
font-size at all?

Thanks

Mark

Beauregard T. Shagnasty

2007-04-22, 6:18 pm

Mark wrote:

> I'm just after a bit of wisdom here.
>
> If I specify something like
>
> body { font-size: 1em; }
>
> is this really the same as
>
> body { font-size: 100%; }
> ?

They give the same result.

> Which is preferred, or is it a matter of taste?

100% is preferred, due to a bug in IE6 and lower (maybe 7 too?) where em
unit will not scale correctly when user changes size (Medium to Large,
etc).

> And what is the difference between the above and not specifying the
> font-size at all?

None, except if you do declare it, you show your intent on being
correct. <g>

--
-bts
-Motorcycles defy gravity; cars just suck

Bergamot

2007-04-22, 6:18 pm

Beauregard T. Shagnasty wrote:
> Mark wrote:
>
>
> None, except if you do declare it, you show your intent on being
> correct. <g>

Also, if you do use em units elsewhere in the stylesheet, IE will give
more predictable results if you set font-size:100% first.

--
Berg

Mark

2007-04-22, 6:18 pm

Bergamot wrote:
> Beauregard T. Shagnasty wrote:
>
> Also, if you do use em units elsewhere in the stylesheet, IE will give
> more predictable results if you set font-size:100% first.
>

Thanks for your help. I wasn't aware of the IE bug so that simplifies
things.

Mark