@media

The @media CSS at-rule can be used to apply styles based on the result of one or more media queries, which test a device's type, specific characteristics, and environment.

In CSS, the @media rule may be placed at the top level of your code or nested inside any other conditional group at-rule.

/* Media query */
@media screen and (min-width: 900px) {
  article {
    padding: 1rem 3rem;
  }
}

/* Nested media query */
@supports (display: flex) {
  @media screen and (min-width: 900px) {
    article {
      display: flex;
    }
  }
}

Besides its use in the @media rule, a media query may also be applied to an HTML <link> element to restrict an entire style sheet to certain media.

<!-- Media-dependent style sheet included in HTML -->
<link rel="stylesheet" media="screen and (min-width: 900px)" href="widescreen-styles.css" />

Syntax

The @media at-rule is composed of one or more media queries, each of which consists of an optional media type and any number of media feature expressions. Multiple queries can be combined in various ways by using logical operators, and are case-insensitive.

Corresponding styles are applied only if a media query computes to true, i.e., when the specified media type matches the type of device the document is being displayed on and all media feature expressions compute as true. Queries involving unknown media types are always false.

Media types

Media types describe the general category of a device. Unless you use the not or only logical operators, the media type is optional and the all type will be implied.

all

Suitable for all devices.

print

Intended for paged material and for documents viewed on screen in print preview mode. Please consult the section on paged media, and the media section of the Getting Started tutorial for information about formatting issues that are specific to paged media.

screen

Intended primarily for color computer screens.

speech

Intended for speech synthesizers.

Media features

Media feature expressions test for specific characteristics of the user agent, output device, or environment. They are entirely optional. Each media feature expression must be surrounded by parentheses.

Logical operators

The logical operators not, and, and only can be used to compose a complex media query. You can also combine multiple media queries into a single rule using a comma-separated list.

and

The and operator is used for combining multiple media features together into a single media query, requiring each chained feature to return true in order for the query to be true. It is also used for joining media features with media types.

not

The not operator is used to negate a media query, returning true if the query would otherwise return false. If present in a comma-separated list, it will only negate the specific query to which it is applied. If you use the not operator, you must specify an explicit media type.

only

The only operator is used to apply a style only if an entire query matches, and is useful for preventing older browsers from applying selected styles. If you use the only operator, you must specify an explicit media type.

comma-separated lists

Each query in a comma-separated media query list is treated separately from the others. If any of the queries in a list is true, the entire media statement returns true. In other words, lists behave like the logical operator or.

Formal syntax

@media <media-query-list> {
  <group-rule-body>
}
where 
<media-query-list> = <media-query>#
where 
<media-query> = <media-condition> | [ not | only ]? <media-type> [ and <media-condition-without-or> ]?
where 
<media-condition> = <media-not> | <media-and> | <media-or> | <media-in-parens>
<media-type> = <ident>
<media-condition-without-or> = <media-not> | <media-and> | <media-in-parens>
where 
<media-not> = not <media-in-parens>
<media-and> = <media-in-parens> [ and <media-in-parens> ]+
<media-or> = <media-in-parens> [ or <media-in-parens> ]+
<media-in-parens> = ( <media-condition> ) | <media-feature> | <general-enclosed>
where 
<media-feature> = ( [ <mf-plain> | <mf-boolean> | <mf-range> ] )
<general-enclosed> = [ <function-token> <any-value> ) ] | ( <ident> <any-value> )
where 
<mf-plain> = <mf-name> : <mf-value>
<mf-boolean> = <mf-name>
<mf-range> = <mf-name> [ '<' | '>' ]? '='? <mf-value> | <mf-value> [ '<' | '>' ]? '='? <mf-name> | <mf-value> '<' '='? <mf-name> '<' '='? <mf-value> | <mf-value> '>' '='? <mf-name> '>' '='? <mf-value>
where 
<mf-name> = <ident>
<mf-value> = <number> | <dimension> | <ident> | <ratio>

Examples

@media print {
  body { font-size: 10pt; }
}

@media screen {
  body { font-size: 13px; }
}

@media screen, print {
  body { line-height: 1.2; }
}

@media only screen 
  and (min-width: 320px) 
  and (max-width: 480px)
  and (resolution: 150dpi) {
    body { line-height: 1.4; }
}

For more media feature examples, please see the reference page for each specific feature. For more logical operator examples, please see Using media queries.

Specifications

Browser compatibility

See also

• Using media queries
• In JavaScript, @media can be accessed via the CSS object model interface CSSMediaRule.
• Extended Mozilla media features
• Extended WebKit media features