@media

The @media CSS at-rule can be used to apply part of a style sheet based on the result of one or more media queries.

Syntax

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

/* At the top level of your code */
@media screen and (min-width: 900px) {
  article {
    padding: 1rem 3rem;
  }
}

/* Nested within another conditional at-rule */
@supports (display: flex) {
  @media screen and (min-width: 900px) {
    article {
      display: flex;
    }
  }
}

For a discussion of media query syntax, please see Using media queries.

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>

Media features

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

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; }
}

Introduced in Media Queries Level 4 is a new range syntax that allows for less verbose media queries when testing for any feature accepting a range, as shown in the below examples:

@media (height > 600px) {
    body { line-height: 1.4; }
}

@media (400px <= width <= 700px) {
    body { line-height: 1.4; }
}

For more examples, please see Using media queries.

Accessibility concerns

To best accommodate people who adjust a site's text size, use ems when you need a <length> for your media queries.

Both em and px are valid units, but ems work better if the user changes the browser text size.

Also consider using Level 4 media queries to improve the user's experience. For example, prefers-reduced-motion to detect if the user has requested that the system minimize the amount of animation or motion it uses.

Specifications

Browser compatibilityUpdate compatibility data on GitHub

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