`counter-set` CSS property

The counter-set CSS property sets CSS counters on the element to the given values.

If the counters don't exist the counter-set property creates a new counter for each named counter in the list of space-separated counter and value pairs. However, to create a new counter it is recommended to use the counter-reset CSS property.

If a named counter in the list is missing a value, the value of the counter will be set to 0.

Try it

counter-set: none;

counter-set: chapter-count 0;

counter-set: chapter-count;

counter-set: chapter-count 5;

counter-set: chapter-count -5;

<section class="default-example" id="default-example">
  <div class="transition-all" id="chapters">
    <h1>Alice's Adventures in Wonderland</h1>
    <h2>Down the Rabbit-Hole</h2>
    <h2 id="example-element">The Pool of Tears</h2>
    <h2>A Caucus-Race and a Long Tale</h2>
    <h2>The Rabbit Sends in a Little Bill</h2>
  </div>
</section>

#default-example {
  text-align: left;
  counter-set: chapter-count;
}

#example-element {
  background-color: #37077c;
  color: white;
}

h2 {
  counter-increment: chapter-count;
  font-size: 1em;
}

h2::before {
  content: "Chapter " counter(chapter-count) ": ";
}

Syntax

/* Set "my-counter" to 0 */
counter-set: my-counter;

/* Set "my-counter" to -1 */
counter-set: my-counter -1;

/* Set "counter1" to 1, and "counter2" to 4 */
counter-set: counter1 1 counter2 4;

/* Cancel any counter that could have been set in less specific rules */
counter-set: none;

/* Global values */
counter-set: inherit;
counter-set: initial;
counter-set: revert;
counter-set: revert-layer;
counter-set: unset;

Values

This property is specified as either a space-separated list of <custom-ident> values, each optionally followed by an <integer>, or the keyword none:

<custom-ident>

The name of the counter to set.

<integer>

The value to set the counter to on each occurrence of the element. Defaults to 0 if not specified. If there isn't currently a counter of the given name on the element, the element will create a new counter of the given name with a starting value of 0 (though it may then immediately set or increment that value to something different).

none

No counter set is to be performed. This can be used to override a counter-set defined in a less specific rule.

Formal definition

Formal syntax

counter-set = 
  [ <counter-name> <integer>? ]+ |
  none

<counter-name> = 
  <custom-ident>

<integer> = 
  <number-token>

Examples

Setting named counters

h1 {
  counter-set: chapter section 1 page;
  /* Sets the chapter and page counters to 0,
     and the section counter to 1 */
}

Specifications

Browser compatibility

See also

• Using CSS Counters
• counter-increment
• counter-reset
• @counter-style
• counter() and counters() functions
• content property
• CSS lists and counters module
• CSS counter styles module