How to Bold Text in HTML with CSS

Welcome to another informative blog post on codedamn! Today, we'll be discussing a fundamental topic for beginners in web development: how to bold text in HTML with CSS. As you might know, bold text can significantly improve the readability and visual hierarchy of your content. In this blog, we will explore various ways to achieve bold text using HTML and CSS. So, whether you are an absolute beginner or just looking to refresh your knowledge, this blog is for you.

Introduction to HTML and CSS

Before we dive into the various techniques to bold text, let's quickly recap the basics of HTML and CSS. HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is the standard markup language used to structure content on the web. It consists of a series of elements that define the structure of a webpage, such as headings, paragraphs, links, lists, and more.

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), on the other hand, is a stylesheet language used to control the appearance of HTML content. This includes aspects like colors, font styles, sizes, positioning, and other visual elements.

Now that we've briefly covered the basics let's explore the different ways to bold text in HTML with CSS.

Method 1: Using HTML Elements

One of the most straightforward ways to bold text in HTML is by using specific elements that inherently apply bold styling. These elements include <strong>, <b>, and <h1> to <h6> (headings).

The Element

The <strong> element is used to give importance to a specific part of the text. By default, browsers render the text within a <strong> element as bold. Here's a simple example:

<p>This is some <strong>bold text</strong> within a paragraph.</p>

The Element

The <b> element is used to stylistically offset a part of the text without giving it any extra importance. By default, browsers also render the text within a <b> element as bold. Here's a simple example:

<p>This is some <b>bold text</b> within a paragraph.</p>

Heading Elements

Heading elements (<h1> to <h6>) are used to define the headings and subheadings on a webpage. By default, these elements are displayed in bold and in descending order of size (from <h1> being the largest to <h6> being the smallest). Here's an example:

<h1>Heading 1</h1>
<h2>Heading 2</h2>
<h3>Heading 3</h3>

Method 2: Using CSS Styles

While HTML elements can help you achieve bold text, using CSS provides more flexibility and control. Here are some ways to bold text using CSS:

The font-weight Property

The font-weight property controls the weight (thickness) of a font. To bold text with CSS, you can set the font-weight property to bold or a numeric value (700 is equivalent to bold). Here's an example:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<style>
  .bold-text {
    font-weight: bold;
  }
</style>
</head>
<body>

<p class="bold-text">This is some bold text using CSS.</p>

</body>
</html>

The @font-face Rule with Custom Fonts

If you're using custom fonts, you can use the @font-face rule to define different font weights and apply them to your text. Here's an example using the popular Google Font "Roboto":

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Roboto:400,700&display=swap" />
<style>
  body {
    font-family: 'Roboto', sans-serif;
  }
  
  .bold-text {
    font-weight: 700;
  }
</style>
</head>
<body>

<p class="bold-text">This is some bold text using a custom font and CSS.</p>

</body>
</html>

FAQ

What is the difference between and elements?

The main difference between the <strong> and <b> elements lies in their semantic meaning. The <strong> element is used to indicate importance, while the <b> element is used for stylistic purposes without giving any extra importance. However, both elements render text as bold by default.

Can I use CSS to style the text inside an HTML element like or ?

Yes, you can use CSS to style the text inside any HTML element, including <strong> and <b> elements. For instance, you can override the default bold styling and apply a different font-weight or color.

What is the numeric value of the font-weight property for bold text?

The numeric value for bold text is 700. However, different fonts may have additional font-weight options, so it's essential to check the documentation for the specific font you're using.

Can I bold text using inline styles?

Yes, you can use inline styles to bold text in HTML. However, it's generally recommended to use external stylesheets or internal <style> elements for better maintainability and separation of concerns.

We hope this blog post has provided you with a solid understanding of how to bold text in HTML with CSS. By using HTML elements or CSS styles, you can easily emphasize specific parts of your content and enhance its visual hierarchy. As always, feel free to explore the official HTML documentation and the official CSS documentation for more information and techniques. Happy coding!