inherit

The inherit CSS-value causes the element for which it is specified to take the computed value of the property from its parent element. It is allowed on every CSS property.

For inherited properties, this reinforces the default behavior, and is only needed to override another rule. For non-inherited properties, this specifies a behavior that typically makes relatively little sense and you may consider using initial instead, or unset on the all property.

Inheritance is always from the parent element in the document tree, even when the parent element is not the containing block.

Example

 /* make second-level headers green */
 h2 { color: green; }

 /* ...but leave those in the sidebar alone so they use their parent's color */
 #sidebar h2 { color: inherit; }

In this example the h2 elements inside the sidebar might be different colors. For example, if one of them were the child of a div matched by the rule

 div#current { color: blue; }

it would be blue.

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
CSS Cascading and Inheritance Level 4 The definition of 'inherit' in that specification.	Working Draft	No changes from Level 3.
CSS Values and Units Module Level 3 The definition of 'inherit' in that specification.	Candidate Recommendation	No significant change from CSS Level 2 (Revision 1)
CSS Level 2 (Revision 1) The definition of 'inherit' in that specification.	Recommendation	Initial definition

Browser compatibility

See also

• Inheritance
• The all CSS property.

• The CSS-wide property values: initial, unset, and revert.