symbols()

The symbols() CSS function enables defining counter styles inline, directly as a value of properties such as {{cssxref("list-style")}}, providing a less powerful but simpler alternative to the {{cssxref("@counter-style")}} method of defining a counter style.

Unlike {{cssxref("@counter-style")}}, which defines a reusable counter style, symbols() is anonymous (i.e., it can only be used once). This function accepts strings and images as values. In comparison, the {{cssxref("@counter-style")}}'s symbols descriptor also accepts identifiers.

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.

Formal syntax

{{CSSSyntax}}

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

{{EmbedLiveSample('Examples','100%',200)}}

Specifications

{{Specifications}}

Browser compatibility

{{Compat}}

See also

• {{cssxref("@counter-style")}} descriptors: {{cssxref("@counter-style/system","system")}}, {{cssxref("@counter-style/symbols", "symbols")}}, {{cssxref("@counter-style/additive-symbols", "additive-symbols")}}, {{cssxref("@counter-style/prefix", "prefix")}}, {{cssxref("@counter-style/suffix", "suffix")}}, {{cssxref("@counter-style/range", "range")}}, {{cssxref("@counter-style/pad", "pad")}}, {{cssxref("@counter-style/speak-as", "speak-as")}}, {{cssxref("@counter-style/fallback", "fallback")}}
• List style properties: {{cssxref("list-style")}}, {{cssxref("list-style-type")}}
• CSS counter styles module
• CSS lists and counters module