---
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>` | h1. Bootstrap heading |
| `<h2></h2>` | h2. Bootstrap heading |
| `<h3></h3>` | h3. Bootstrap heading |
| `<h4></h4>` | h4. Bootstrap heading |
| `<h5></h5>` | h5. Bootstrap heading |
| `<h6></h6>` | h6. Bootstrap heading |
</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={`
h1. Bootstrap heading

h2. Bootstrap heading

h3. Bootstrap heading

h4. Bootstrap heading

h5. Bootstrap heading

h6. Bootstrap heading
`} />

### Customizing headings

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

<Example code={`
    Fancy display heading
    With faded secondary text
  
`} />

## 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={`

Display 1

Display 2

Display 3

Display 4

Display 5

Display 6
`} />

```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={`
    This is a lead paragraph. It stands out from regular paragraphs.
  
`} />

## Inline text elements

Styling for common inline HTML5 elements.

<Example code={`
You can use the mark tag to highlight text.

This line of text is meant to be treated as deleted text.

This line of text is meant to be treated as no longer accurate.

This line of text is meant to be treated as an addition to the document.

This line of text will render as underlined.

This line of text is meant to be treated as fine print.

This line rendered as bold text.

This line rendered as italicized text.
`} />

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={`
attr

HTML
`} />

## Blockquotes

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

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

### 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={`

A well-known quote, contained in a blockquote element.

      Someone famous in Source Title

`} />

### Alignment

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

<Example code={`

A well-known quote, contained in a blockquote element.

      Someone famous in Source Title

`} />

<Example code={`

A well-known quote, contained in a blockquote element.

      Someone famous in Source Title

`} />

## 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={`
    
- This is a list.
    
- It appears completely unstyled.
    
- Structurally, it’s still a list.
    
- However, this style only applies to immediate child elements.
    
- Nested lists:

- are unaffected by this style
        
- will still show a bullet
        
- and have appropriate left margin

- This may still come in handy in some situations.
  
`} />

### 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={`
    
- This is a list item.
    
- And another one.
    
- But they’re displayed inline.
  
`} />

### 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={`
    
Description lists
    
A description list is perfect for defining terms.

    <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>
  
`} />

## 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]]).
