---
title: Typography
description: Documentation and examples for Bootstrap typography, including global settings, headings, body text, lists, and more.
toc: true
---

## Global settings

Bootstrap sets basic global display, typography, and link styles. When more control is needed, check out the [textual utility classes]([[docsref:/utilities/text]]).

- Use a [native font stack]([[docsref:/content/reboot#native-font-stack]]) that selects the best `font-family` for each OS and device.
- For a more inclusive and accessible type scale, we use the browser’s default root `font-size` (typically 16px) so visitors can customize their browser defaults as needed.
- Use the `$font-family-base`, `$font-size-base`, and `$line-height-base` attributes as our typographic base applied to the `<body>`.
- Set the global link color via `$link-color`.
- Use `$body-bg` to set a `background-color` on the `<body>` (`#fff` by default).

These styles can be found within `_reboot.scss`, and the global variables are defined in `_variables.scss`. Make sure to set `$font-size-base` in `rem`.

## Headings

All HTML headings, `<h1>` through `<h6>`, are available.

<BsTable>
| Heading | Example |
| --- | --- |
| `<h1></h1>` | <span class="h1">h1. Bootstrap heading</span> |
| `<h2></h2>` | <span class="h2">h2. Bootstrap heading</span> |
| `<h3></h3>` | <span class="h3">h3. Bootstrap heading</span> |
| `<h4></h4>` | <span class="h4">h4. Bootstrap heading</span> |
| `<h5></h5>` | <span class="h5">h5. Bootstrap heading</span> |
| `<h6></h6>` | <span class="h6">h6. Bootstrap heading</span> |
</BsTable>

```html
<h1>h1. Bootstrap heading</h1>
<h2>h2. Bootstrap heading</h2>
<h3>h3. Bootstrap heading</h3>
<h4>h4. Bootstrap heading</h4>
<h5>h5. Bootstrap heading</h5>
<h6>h6. Bootstrap heading</h6>
```

`.h1` through `.h6` classes are also available, for when you want to match the font styling of a heading but cannot use the associated HTML element.

<Example code={`<p class="h1">h1. Bootstrap heading</p>
<p class="h2">h2. Bootstrap heading</p>
<p class="h3">h3. Bootstrap heading</p>
<p class="h4">h4. Bootstrap heading</p>
<p class="h5">h5. Bootstrap heading</p>
<p class="h6">h6. Bootstrap heading</p>`} />

### Customizing headings

Use the included utility classes to recreate the small secondary heading text from Bootstrap 3.

<Example code={`<h3>
    Fancy display heading
    <small class="text-body-secondary">With faded secondary text</small>
  </h3>`} />

## Display headings

Traditional heading elements are designed to work best in the meat of your page content. When you need a heading to stand out, consider using a **display heading**—a larger, slightly more opinionated heading style.

<Example showMarkup={false} code={`
<div class="display-1 pb-3 mb-3 border-bottom">Display 1</div>
<div class="display-2 pb-3 mb-3 border-bottom">Display 2</div>
<div class="display-3 pb-3 mb-3 border-bottom">Display 3</div>
<div class="display-4 pb-3 mb-3 border-bottom">Display 4</div>
<div class="display-5 pb-3 mb-3 border-bottom">Display 5</div>
<div class="display-6">Display 6</div>
`} />

```html
<h1 class="display-1">Display 1</h1>
<h1 class="display-2">Display 2</h1>
<h1 class="display-3">Display 3</h1>
<h1 class="display-4">Display 4</h1>
<h1 class="display-5">Display 5</h1>
<h1 class="display-6">Display 6</h1>
```

Display headings are configured via the `$display-font-sizes` Sass map and two variables, `$display-font-weight` and `$display-line-height`.

Display headings are customizable via two variables, `$display-font-family` and `$display-font-style`.

<ScssDocs name="display-headings" file="scss/_variables.scss" />

## Lead

Make a paragraph stand out by adding `.lead`.

<Example code={`<p class="lead">
    This is a lead paragraph. It stands out from regular paragraphs.
  </p>`} />

## Inline text elements

Styling for common inline HTML5 elements.

<Example code={`<p>You can use the mark tag to <mark>highlight</mark> text.</p>
<p><del>This line of text is meant to be treated as deleted text.</del></p>
<p><s>This line of text is meant to be treated as no longer accurate.</s></p>
<p><ins>This line of text is meant to be treated as an addition to the document.</ins></p>
<p><u>This line of text will render as underlined.</u></p>
<p><small>This line of text is meant to be treated as fine print.</small></p>
<p><strong>This line rendered as bold text.</strong></p>
<p><em>This line rendered as italicized text.</em></p>`} />

Beware that those tags should be used for semantic purpose:

- `<mark>` represents text which is marked or highlighted for reference or notation purposes.
- `<small>` represents side-comments and small print, like copyright and legal text.
- `<s>` represents element that are no longer relevant or no longer accurate.
- `<u>` represents a span of inline text which should be rendered in a way that indicates that it has a non-textual annotation.

If you want to style your text, you should use the following classes instead:

- `.mark` will apply the same styles as `<mark>`.
- `.small` will apply the same styles as `<small>`.
- `.text-decoration-underline` will apply the same styles as `<u>`.
- `.text-decoration-line-through` will apply the same styles as `<s>`.

While not shown above, feel free to use `<b>` and `<i>` in HTML5. `<b>` is meant to highlight words or phrases without conveying additional importance, while `<i>` is mostly for voice, technical terms, etc.

## Text utilities

Change text alignment, transform, style, weight, line-height, decoration and color with our [text utilities]([[docsref:/utilities/text]]) and [color utilities]([[docsref:/utilities/colors]]).

## Abbreviations

Stylized implementation of HTML’s `<abbr>` element for abbreviations and acronyms to show the expanded version on hover. Abbreviations have a default underline and gain a help cursor to provide additional context on hover and to users of assistive technologies.

Add `.initialism` to an abbreviation for a slightly smaller font-size.

<Example code={`<p><abbr title="attribute">attr</abbr></p>
<p><abbr title="HyperText Markup Language" class="initialism">HTML</abbr></p>`} />

## Blockquotes

For quoting blocks of content from another source within your document. Wrap `<blockquote class="blockquote">` around any HTML as the quote.

<Example code={`<blockquote class="blockquote">
    <p>A well-known quote, contained in a blockquote element.</p>
  </blockquote>`} />

### Naming a source

The HTML spec requires that blockquote attribution be placed outside the `<blockquote>`. When providing attribution, wrap your `<blockquote>` in a `<figure>` and use a `<figcaption>` or a block level element (e.g., `<p>`) with the `.blockquote-footer` class. Be sure to wrap the name of the source work in `<cite>` as well.

<Example code={`<figure>
    <blockquote class="blockquote">
      <p>A well-known quote, contained in a blockquote element.</p>
    </blockquote>
    <figcaption class="blockquote-footer">
      Someone famous in <cite title="Source Title">Source Title</cite>
    </figcaption>
  </figure>`} />

### Alignment

Use text utilities as needed to change the alignment of your blockquote.

<Example code={`<figure class="text-center">
    <blockquote class="blockquote">
      <p>A well-known quote, contained in a blockquote element.</p>
    </blockquote>
    <figcaption class="blockquote-footer">
      Someone famous in <cite title="Source Title">Source Title</cite>
    </figcaption>
  </figure>`} />

<Example code={`<figure class="text-end">
    <blockquote class="blockquote">
      <p>A well-known quote, contained in a blockquote element.</p>
    </blockquote>
    <figcaption class="blockquote-footer">
      Someone famous in <cite title="Source Title">Source Title</cite>
    </figcaption>
  </figure>`} />

## Lists

### Unstyled

Remove the default `list-style` and left margin on list items (immediate children only). **This only applies to immediate children list items**, meaning you will need to add the class for any nested lists as well.

<Example code={`<ul class="list-unstyled">
    <li>This is a list.</li>
    <li>It appears completely unstyled.</li>
    <li>Structurally, it’s still a list.</li>
    <li>However, this style only applies to immediate child elements.</li>
    <li>Nested lists:
      <ul>
        <li>are unaffected by this style</li>
        <li>will still show a bullet</li>
        <li>and have appropriate left margin</li>
      </ul>
    </li>
    <li>This may still come in handy in some situations.</li>
  </ul>`} />

### Inline

Remove a list’s bullets and apply some light `margin` with a combination of two classes, `.list-inline` and `.list-inline-item`.

<Example code={`<ul class="list-inline">
    <li class="list-inline-item">This is a list item.</li>
    <li class="list-inline-item">And another one.</li>
    <li class="list-inline-item">But they’re displayed inline.</li>
  </ul>`} />

### Description list alignment

Align terms and descriptions horizontally by using our grid system’s predefined classes (or semantic mixins). For longer terms, you can optionally add a `.text-truncate` class to truncate the text with an ellipsis.

<Example code={`<dl class="row">
    <dt class="col-sm-3">Description lists</dt>
    <dd class="col-sm-9">A description list is perfect for defining terms.</dd>

    <dt class="col-sm-3">Term</dt>
    <dd class="col-sm-9">
      <p>Definition for the term.</p>
      <p>And some more placeholder definition text.</p>
    </dd>

    <dt class="col-sm-3">Another term</dt>
    <dd class="col-sm-9">This definition is short, so no extra paragraphs or anything.</dd>

    <dt class="col-sm-3 text-truncate">Truncated term is truncated</dt>
    <dd class="col-sm-9">This can be useful when space is tight. Adds an ellipsis at the end.</dd>

    <dt class="col-sm-3">Nesting</dt>
    <dd class="col-sm-9">
      <dl class="row">
        <dt class="col-sm-4">Nested definition list</dt>
        <dd class="col-sm-8">I heard you like definition lists. Let me put a definition list inside your definition list.</dd>
      </dl>
    </dd>
  </dl>`} />

## Responsive font sizes

In Bootstrap 5, we’ve enabled responsive font sizes by default, allowing text to scale more naturally across device and viewport sizes. Have a look at the [RFS page]([[docsref:/getting-started/rfs]]) to find out how this works.

## CSS

### Sass variables

Headings have some dedicated variables for sizing and spacing.

<ScssDocs name="headings-variables" file="scss/_variables.scss" />

Miscellaneous typography elements covered here and in [Reboot]([[docsref:/content/reboot]]) also have dedicated variables.

<ScssDocs name="type-variables" file="scss/_variables.scss" />

### Sass mixins

There are no dedicated mixins for typography, but Bootstrap does use [Responsive Font Sizing (RFS)]([[docsref:/getting-started/rfs]]).
