CSS letter-spacing Property
Sets the horizontal spacing between text characters
Syntax
letter-spacing: normal | <length>;Values
| Value | Description |
|---|---|
| normal | Default spacing |
| <length> | Fixed spacing adjustment (positive or negative) |
| 0.05em | Slightly expanded tracking |
| -.02em | Slightly tightened tracking |
Example
.heading {
letter-spacing: -0.02em;
}
.uppercase-label {
letter-spacing: 0.1em;
text-transform: uppercase;
}Understanding CSS letter-spacing
The CSS letter-spacing property sets the horizontal spacing between text characters. As part of the Typography module in CSS, it is one of the most commonly used properties for controlling the visual presentation of web pages.
You can set letter-spacing to values such as normal, <length>, 0.05em, -.02em, among others. Each value changes how the browser renders the affected element, giving you fine-grained control over your page layout and design. Choosing the right value depends on the specific design requirements of your project.
Common use cases for the letter-spacing property include responsive web design, component-based layouts, and creating visually consistent interfaces across devices. It works closely with related properties like word-spacing, font-size, text-align to achieve complex styling effects. Understanding how these properties interact helps you write cleaner, more maintainable stylesheets.
Browser support for letter-spacing is excellent across all modern browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. For older browsers, consider using fallback values or progressive enhancement strategies. The property can also be set dynamically via JavaScript using element.style.letterSpacing or the CSS custom properties (variables) approach for theming.
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