`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.

Note: The counter's value can be incremented or decremented using the counter-increment CSS property.

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

css

/* 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;

The counter-set property is specified as either one of the following:

A <custom-ident> naming the counter, followed optionally by an <integer>. You may specify as many counters to reset as you want, with each name or name-number pair separated by a space.
The keyword value none.

Values

<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

Initial value	`none`
Applies to	all elements
Inherited	no
Computed value	as specified
Animation type	by computed value type

Formal syntax

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

<counter-name> = 
  <custom-ident>  

<integer> = 
  <number-token>

Examples

undefined

Setting named counters

css

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

Specifications

CSS Lists and Counters Module Level 3

counter-set CSS property