CSS & Font Sizes

Mark

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

Apr 22 '07 #1

Beauregard T. Shagnasty

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

Apr 22 '07 #2

Bergamot

Beauregard T. Shagnasty wrote:

Mark wrote:

> body { font-size: 1em; }
body { font-size: 100%; }
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>

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

Apr 22 '07 #3

Mark

Bergamot wrote:

Beauregard T. Shagnasty wrote:

>Mark wrote:

>> body { font-size: 1em; }
body { font-size: 100%; }
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>

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

Apr 22 '07 #4