CSS: registerProperty() static method

The CSS.registerProperty() static method registers custom properties, allowing for property type checking, default values, and properties that do or do not inherit their value.

Registering a custom property allows you to tell the browser how the custom property should behave; what types are allowed, whether the custom property inherits its value, and what the default value of the custom property is.

Syntax

js
CSS.registerProperty(propertyDefinition)

Parameters

propertyDefinition

An object containing the following properties:

name

A string representing the <dashed-ident> name of the property being defined.

syntax Optional

A string representing the expected syntax of the defined property. Defaults to "*". See the syntax.

inherits

A boolean value defining whether the defined property should be inherited (true), or not (false). Defaults to false.

initialValue Optional

A string representing the initial value of the defined property.

Return value

undefined.

Exceptions

InvalidModificationError DOMException

The given name has already been registered.

SyntaxError DOMException

The given name isn't a valid custom property name (starts with two dashes, e.g., --foo).

TypeError

The required name and/or inherits dictionary members were not provided.

Examples

The following will register a custom property, --my-color, using registerProperty(), as a color, give it a default value, and have it not inherit its value:

js
window.CSS.registerProperty({
  name: "--my-color",
  syntax: "<color>",
  inherits: false,
  initialValue: "#c0ffee",
});

In this example, the custom property --my-color has been registered using the syntax <color>. We can now use that property to transition a gradient on hover or focus. Notice that with the registered property, the transition works, but it doesn't work with the unregistered property!

css
.registered {
  --my-color: #c0ffee;
  background-image: linear-gradient(to right, white, var(--my-color));
  transition: --my-color 1s ease-in-out;
}

.registered:hover,
.registered:focus {
  --my-color: #b4d455;
}

.unregistered {
  --unregistered: #c0ffee;
  background-image: linear-gradient(to right, white, var(--unregistered));
  transition: --unregistered 1s ease-in-out;
}

.unregistered:hover,
.unregistered:focus {
  --unregistered: #b4d455;
}
button {
  font-size: 3vw;
}

We can add these styles to some buttons:

html
<button class="registered">Background Registered</button>
<button class="unregistered">Background Not Registered</button>

Specifications

See also