[csswg-drafts] [css-inline] Serialization of `initial-letter` (#12186)

jfkthame has just created a new issue for https://github.com/w3c/csswg-drafts:

== [css-inline] Serialization of `initial-letter` ==
I'd like to get confirmation of the expected serialization of the `initial-letter` property.

[The spec](https://drafts.csswg.org/css-inline/#sizing-drop-initials) gives its syntax as

> normal [|](https://drafts.csswg.org/css-values-4/#comb-one) [<number [1,∞]>](https://drafts.csswg.org/css-values-4/#number-value) [<integer [1,∞]>](https://drafts.csswg.org/css-values-4/#integer-value) | <number [1,∞]> [&&](https://drafts.csswg.org/css-values-4/#comb-all) [ drop | raise ][?](https://drafts.csswg.org/css-values-4/#mult-opt)

and then also mentions that

> If the [initial letter sink](https://drafts.csswg.org/css-inline/#initial-letter-initial-letter-sink) value is omitted, [drop](https://drafts.csswg.org/css-inline/#valdef-initial-letter-drop) is assumed.

Taking this together with the [shortest serialization principle](https://drafts.csswg.org/cssom/#serializing-css-values), it seems that the `drop` keyword should never appear in the serialization. Is this the correct expectation?

I'm prompted to ask because there are currently WPT tests that do not match this understanding. https://wpt.live/css/css-inline/initial-letter/initial-letter-valid.html expects `1.23 drop` and `drop 1.23` to both serialize as `1.23 drop` (canonical order, but not shortest-form: simply `1.23` would be equivalent).

I'd have some sympathy for an argument that including the `drop` keyword is good for clarity/readability. But if so, then presumably a specified value of just `1.23` should *also* serialize as `1.23 drop`, for consistency. But the above test expects it to serialize as specified, without a sink value.

I've opened https://github.com/web-platform-tests/wpt/issues/52496 regarding the problems with test here (there's also a computed-value test with incorrect expectations), but would appreciate confirmation of whether the serialized value should include (for clarity) or omit (shortest-form) the `drop` keyword.

Please view or discuss this issue at https://github.com/w3c/csswg-drafts/issues/12186 using your GitHub account


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Received on Tuesday, 13 May 2025 14:59:14 UTC