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Indent the text of a paragraph with CSS
The text-indent property is used to indent the first line of text in a paragraph or block-level element. This creates a traditional paragraph indentation effect commonly seen in books and formal documents.
Syntax
text-indent: value;
Possible Values
- Length units: px, em, rem, cm, mm, in, pt
- Percentage: % (relative to parent element's width)
- Keywords: inherit, initial, unset
Example: Basic Text Indentation
Here's how to implement text indentation using different measurement units:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<style>
.indent-cm {
text-indent: 2cm;
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.indent-px {
text-indent: 50px;
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.indent-percent {
text-indent: 10%;
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<p class="indent-cm">
This paragraph has its first line indented by 2cm. Notice how only the first line is affected while subsequent lines align with the normal margin.
</p>
<p class="indent-px">
This paragraph uses 50px indentation. The text-indent property only affects the first line of each paragraph or block element.
</p>
<p class="indent-percent">
This paragraph uses 10% indentation relative to its container width. Percentage values are responsive to container size changes.
</p>
</body>
</html>
Negative Indentation
You can also use negative values to create a hanging indent effect:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<style>
.hanging-indent {
text-indent: -30px;
padding-left: 30px;
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<p class="hanging-indent">
? This creates a hanging indent where the first line extends beyond the left margin of subsequent lines. This technique is commonly used for bulleted lists or bibliographies.
</p>
</body>
</html>
Comparison of Units
| Unit | Description | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| px | Fixed pixel value | Precise control |
| em | Relative to font size | Scalable with text |
| % | Relative to container width | Responsive layouts |
| cm/in | Physical measurements | Print stylesheets |
Browser Compatibility
The text-indent property is supported by all modern browsers and has excellent compatibility across different platforms.
Conclusion
The text-indent property provides an easy way to create professional paragraph formatting. Use positive values for traditional indentation or negative values for hanging indents in lists and citations.
Updated on: 2026-03-15T23:18:59+05:30
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