Recognized media types

The name chosen as the CSS media type reflects the target device for the meaning of the attribute. In the following list of CSS media types, the name of the media type is canonical, but the description is informational. Similarly, the "Media" field in the description of each attribute is also information.

All (All)

Applies to all devices.

Braille (Braille)

For Braille touch feedback devices.

Embossed (convex character)

Used for paging Braille printing.

Handheld (handheld)

For handheld devices (small screen, limited loan).

Print (print)

Used for paging material as well as a document view on the screen in Print preview mode.

Projection (projection)

Used to project a presentation, such as a projector.

Screen (screens)

Mainly used for color computer screen.

Speech (voice)

For speech synthesizers. Note: There is a similar media type in CSS2, which becomes "aural (auditory)".

TTY (Telex typewriter)

Used for media with equal-width characters (such as a telex, terminal, portable device with limited display capabilities). Encoding personnel should not use pixel units in the "TTY" media type.

TV (television)

For TV type devices (low resolution, color, limited scrolling ability, sound effective).

Media type names are case insensitive.

In a sense the media type is mutually exclusive, and the user agent can only support one media type when rendering a document. However, the user agent may use different media types on different canvases. For example, a document might use the "screen" mode on one canvas to display simultaneously on another canvas using "print" mode.

Note A mixed media type is still only one media type. For example, the "TV" media type is a mixed media type that simultaneously renders visually and audibly on a single canvas.

@media and @import rules for unknown media types (but valid identifiers) are processed in the absence of an unknown media type. If a @media/@import rule contains a malformed media type (not an identifier), the statement is invalid.

Note: Media queries supersede these error handling.

For example, in the following fragment, the rules on the P element are applied in "screen" mode (although the "3D" media type is unknown).

@media screen, 3D {   P {color:green;}}

Note: Future updates to CSS may extend the list of media types. The encoding staff should not use a media type name that has not been defined in the CSS specification.

Recognized media types