CODEWITHSUNDEEP
htmlcssaccessibility
Bart
Bart

Reputation: 6814

Should we still use EMs for accessibility?

All major browsers today use page zoom by default, as opposed to "text size". "text size" options are still there, but they are a bit more hidden [especially in Chrome and Firefox]. Given this fact, is there still a reason why EMs are advantageous over PX or %? Why?

Upvotes: 7

Views: 339

Answers (2)

clairesuzy
clairesuzy

Reputation: 27624

Most browsers indeed are capable of sizing pixels, and Zoom is now the more popular way which works well across browser - there is even a very simple fix the old IE6 behaviour of not being able to 'text size' (declare the original body size as a percentage - 100% will do - then fire away with pixels)

Remember too that if a user so desires, or needs to, they can set their own minimum pixel size so if they're basing their defaults on pixels why go through the nightmare of calculations..

IMHO pixels are perfect for text and borders (who needs to size a border lol..), always have been really.

em and percentage really are the same thing well they work identically, and their inheritance can be an absolute nightmare.. em's are great for widths and heights for a bit of fluidity

So no, I don't think we should still use them for text.. not that I ever did ;)

Upvotes: 1

simshaun
simshaun

Reputation: 21466

Even with the page-zoom feature turned off, most major browsers these days are capable of resizing text in px units. I think it was IE6 and under that was not capable of resizing px-based text.

I prefer specifying sizes in px just because I think it's easier than working off "relative" sizes.

Upvotes: 0

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