---
layout: docs
title: Reboot
description: Reboot, a collection of element-specific CSS changes in a single file, kickstart Bootstrap to provide an elegant, consistent, and simple baseline to build upon.
group: content
aliases: "/docs/5.1/content/"
toc: true
---
## Approach
Reboot builds upon Normalize, providing many HTML elements with somewhat opinionated styles using only element selectors. Additional styling is done only with classes. For example, we reboot some `
` styles for a simpler baseline and later provide `.table`, `.table-bordered`, and more.
Here are our guidelines and reasons for choosing what to override in Reboot:
- Update some browser default values to use `rem`s instead of `em`s for scalable component spacing.
- Avoid `margin-top`. Vertical margins can collapse, yielding unexpected results. More importantly though, a single direction of `margin` is a simpler mental model.
- For easier scaling across device sizes, block elements should use `rem`s for `margin`s.
- Keep declarations of `font`-related properties to a minimum, using `inherit` whenever possible.
## CSS variables
Added in v5.1.1
With v5.1.1, we standardized our required `@import`s across all our CSS bundles (including `bootstrap.css`, `bootstrap-reboot.css`, and `bootstrap-grid.css` to include `_root.scss` . This adds `:root` level CSS variables to all bundles, regardless of how many of them are used in that bundle. Ultimately Bootstrap 5 will continue to see more CSS variables added over time.
## Page defaults
The `` and `` elements are updated to provide better page-wide defaults. More specifically:
- The `box-sizing` is globally set on every element—including `*::before` and `*::after`, to `border-box`. This ensures that the declared width of element is never exceeded due to padding or border.
- No base `font-size` is declared on the ``, but `16px` is assumed (the browser default). `font-size: 1rem` is applied on the `` for easy responsive type-scaling via media queries while respecting user preferences and ensuring a more accessible approach. This browser default can be overridden by modifying the `$font-size-root` variable.
- The `` also sets a global `font-family`, `font-weight`, `line-height`, and `color`. This is inherited later by some form elements to prevent font inconsistencies.
- For safety, the `` has a declared `background-color`, defaulting to `#fff`.
## Native font stack
Bootstrap utilizes a "native font stack" or "system font stack" for optimum text rendering on every device and OS. These system fonts have been designed specifically with today's devices in mind, with improved rendering on screens, variable font support, and more. Read more about [native font stacks in this *Smashing Magazine* article](https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2015/11/using-system-ui-fonts-practical-guide/).
```scss
$font-family-sans-serif:
// Cross-platform generic font family (default user interface font)
system-ui,
// Safari for macOS and iOS (San Francisco)
-apple-system,
// Windows
"Segoe UI",
// Android
Roboto,
// Basic web fallback
"Helvetica Neue", Arial,
// Linux
"Noto Sans",
"Liberation Sans",
// Sans serif fallback
sans-serif,
// Emoji fonts
"Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji" !default;
```
Note that because the font stack includes emoji fonts, many common symbol/dingbat unicode characters will be rendered as multi-colored pictographs. Their appearance will vary, depending on the style used in the browser/platform's native emoji font, and they won't be affected by any CSS `color` styles.
This `font-family` is applied to the `` and automatically inherited globally throughout Bootstrap. To switch the global `font-family`, update `$font-family-base` and recompile Bootstrap.
## CSS variables
As Bootstrap 5 continues to mature, more and more styles will be built with [CSS variables]({{< docsref "/customize/css-variables" >}}) as a means to provide more real-time customization without the need to always recompile Sass. Our approach is to take our source Sass variables and transform them into CSS variables. That way, even if you don't use CSS variables, you still have all the power of Sass. **This is still in-progress and will take time to fully implement.**
For example, consider these `:root` CSS variables for common `` styles:
{{< scss-docs name="root-body-variables" file="scss/_root.scss" >}}
In practice, those variables are then applied in Reboot like so:
{{< scss-docs name="reboot-body-rules" file="scss/_reboot.scss" >}}
Which allows you to make real-time customizations however you like:
```html
```
## Headings and paragraphs
All heading elements—e.g., `
`—and `
` are reset to have their `margin-top` removed. Headings have `margin-bottom: .5rem` added and paragraphs `margin-bottom: 1rem` for easy spacing.
Heading
Example
{{< markdown >}}``{{< /markdown >}}
h1. Bootstrap heading
{{< markdown >}}``{{< /markdown >}}
h2. Bootstrap heading
{{< markdown >}}``{{< /markdown >}}
h3. Bootstrap heading
{{< markdown >}}``{{< /markdown >}}
h4. Bootstrap heading
{{< markdown >}}``{{< /markdown >}}
h5. Bootstrap heading
{{< markdown >}}``{{< /markdown >}}
h6. Bootstrap heading
## Lists
All lists—`
`, ``, and `
`—have their `margin-top` removed and a `margin-bottom: 1rem`. Nested lists have no `margin-bottom`. We've also reset the `padding-left` on `
` and `` elements.
{{< markdown >}}
* All lists have their top margin removed
* And their bottom margin normalized
* Nested lists have no bottom margin
* This way they have a more even appearance
* Particularly when followed by more list items
* The left padding has also been reset
1. Here's an ordered list
2. With a few list items
3. It has the same overall look
4. As the previous unordered list
{{< /markdown >}}
For simpler styling, clear hierarchy, and better spacing, description lists have updated `margin`s. `
`s reset `margin-left` to `0` and add `margin-bottom: .5rem`. `
`s are **bolded**.
Description lists
A description list is perfect for defining terms.
Term
Definition for the term.
A second definition for the same term.
Another term
Definition for this other term.
## Inline code
Wrap inline snippets of code with ``. Be sure to escape HTML angle brackets.
{{< example >}}
For example, <section> should be wrapped as inline.
{{< /example >}}
## Code blocks
Use `
`s for multiple lines of code. Once again, be sure to escape any angle brackets in the code for proper rendering. The `
` element is reset to remove its `margin-top` and use `rem` units for its `margin-bottom`.
{{< example >}}
<p>Sample text here...</p>
<p>And another line of sample text here...</p>
{{< /example >}}
## Variables
For indicating variables use the `` tag.
{{< example >}}
y = mx + b
{{< /example >}}
## User input
Use the `` to indicate input that is typically entered via keyboard.
{{< example >}}
To switch directories, type cd followed by the name of the directory.
To edit settings, press ctrl + ,
{{< /example >}}
## Sample output
For indicating sample output from a program use the `` tag.
{{< example >}}
This text is meant to be treated as sample output from a computer program.
{{< /example >}}
## Tables
Tables are slightly adjusted to style `
`s, collapse borders, and ensure consistent `text-align` throughout. Additional changes for borders, padding, and more come with [the `.table` class]({{< docsref "/content/tables" >}}).
This is an example table, and this is its caption to describe the contents.
Table heading
Table heading
Table heading
Table heading
Table cell
Table cell
Table cell
Table cell
Table cell
Table cell
Table cell
Table cell
Table cell
Table cell
Table cell
Table cell
## Forms
Various form elements have been rebooted for simpler base styles. Here are some of the most notable changes:
- `