Implications of the Proposal

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 89 views

CSS Page: A Proposal for Clarifying the 'size' Property

The CSS page specification has been a topic of discussion among web developers and browser vendors for quite some time. One of the key aspects of this specification is the 'size' property, which determines the size of the page. However, there has been a long-standing issue with the 'size' property, which has led to confusion among developers. In this article, we will explore the proposal to make 'size' a legacy alias of a new descriptor, 'page-size', and discuss its potential benefits and implications.

The Current State of the 'size' Property

The 'size' property is used to specify the size of the page, which can be either 'auto' or a specific value. However, the 'size' property has been the subject of controversy due to its ambiguous behavior. The issue at hand is that the 'size' property can be used in different contexts, such as in the <meta> tag or in the CSS @page rule, which can lead to confusion and inconsistent behavior.

The Proposal: Making 'size' a Legacy Alias of 'page-size'

To address the confusion surrounding the 'size' property, a proposal has been put forth to make 'size' a legacy alias of a new descriptor, 'page-size'. This would involve introducing a new property, 'page-size', which would be used to specify the size of the page, and making 'size' a legacy alias of this new property. This would provide a clear and consistent way of specifying the size of the page, and would help to resolve the long-standing issue with the 'size' property.

Benefits of the Proposal

The proposal to make 'size' a legacy alias of 'page-size' has several benefits. Firstly, it would provide a clear and consistent way of specifying the size of the page, which would help to resolve the confusion surrounding the 'size' property. Secondly, it would provide a clear migration path for developers who are currently using the 'size' property, as they would be able to continue using the 'size' property as a legacy alias of the new 'page-size' property. Finally, it would provide a clear and consistent way of specifying the size of the page, which would help to improve the overall user experience.

Implications of the Proposal

The proposal to make 'size' a legacy alias of 'page-size' has several implications. Firstly, it would require changes to the CSS page specification, which would involve introducing a new property, 'page-size', and making 'size' a legacy alias of this new property. Secondly, it would require changes to browser vendors, which would involve updating their browsers to support the new 'page-size' property and the legacy 'size' property. Finally, it would require changes to developers, which would involve updating their code to use the new 'page-size' property and the legacy 'size' property.

In conclusion, the proposal to make 'size' a legacy alias of 'page-size' has several benefits, including providing a clear and consistent way of specifying the size of the page, providing a clear migration path for developers, and improving the overall user experience. However, it also has several implications, including requiring changes to the CSS page specification, browser vendors, and developers. Ultimately, the decision to implement this proposal would depend on the feedback and input from the web development community.

The proposal to make 'size' a legacy alias of 'page-size' is just one of several proposals that have been put forth to address the issues with the CSS page specification. Other proposals include introducing new properties, such as 'page-break' and 'page-margin', and improving the overall user experience. As the web development community continues to evolve and improve, it is likely that new proposals will be put forth to address the issues with the CSS page specification.

Based on the proposal to make 'size' a legacy alias of 'page-size', we recommend the following:

Introduce a new property, 'page-size', which would be used to specify the size of the page.
Make 'size' a legacy alias of the new 'page-size' property.
Provide a clear migration path for developers who are currently using the 'size' property.
Improve the overall user experience by providing a clear and consistent way of specifying the size of the page.

The following is a summary of the minutes from the GitHub issue #820, which discusses the proposal to make 'size' a legacy alias of 'page-size'.

Summary: The proposal to make 'size' a legacy alias of 'page-size' was discussed, and it was agreed that this would provide a clear and consistent way of specifying the size of the page.
Action Items: It was agreed that the following action items would be taken:
- Introduce a new property, 'page-size', which would be used to specify the size of the page.
- Make 'size' a legacy alias of the new 'page-size' property.
- Provide a clear migration path for developers who are currently using the 'size' property.
- Improve the overall user experience by providing a clear and consistent way of specifying the size of the page.

The following are some references that were used in the preparation of this article:

CSS Page Specification: The CSS page specification provides a detailed description of the CSS page properties, including the 'size' property.
GitHub Issue #820: The GitHub issue #820 discusses the proposal to make 'size' a legacy alias of 'page-size'.
W3C CSS Working Group: The W3C CSS Working Group is responsible for developing the CSS page specification, and provides a forum for discussion and feedback on the specification.
CSS Page: A Q&A on Making 'size' a Legacy Alias of 'page-size' ================================================================

In our previous article, we discussed the proposal to make 'size' a legacy alias of 'page-size' in the CSS page specification. This proposal aims to clarify the behavior of the 'size' property and provide a clear and consistent way of specifying the size of the page. In this article, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about this proposal.

Q: What is the current issue with the 'size' property?

A: The current issue with the 'size' property is that it can be used in different contexts, such as in the <meta> tag or in the CSS @page rule, which can lead to confusion and inconsistent behavior.

Q: How would making 'size' a legacy alias of 'page-size' address this issue?

A: Making 'size' a legacy alias of 'page-size' would provide a clear and consistent way of specifying the size of the page. The new 'page-size' property would be used to specify the size of the page, and 'size' would be used as a legacy alias of this new property.

Q: What would be the benefits of making 'size' a legacy alias of 'page-size'?

A: The benefits of making 'size' a legacy alias of 'page-size' would include:

Providing a clear and consistent way of specifying the size of the page
Providing a clear migration path for developers who are currently using the 'size' property
Improving the overall user experience by providing a clear and consistent way of specifying the size of the page

Q: How would developers be affected by this change?

A: Developers who are currently using the 'size' property would need to update their code to use the new 'page-size' property. However, 'size' would still be available as a legacy alias of the new 'page-size' property, making it easier for developers to migrate to the new property.

Q: What would be the implications of making 'size' a legacy alias of 'page-size' for browser vendors?

A: Browser vendors would need to update their browsers to support the new 'page-size' property and the legacy 'size' property. This would require changes to the browser's rendering engine and would likely involve a significant amount of work.

Q: How would this change affect the CSS page specification?

A: This change would require updates to the CSS page specification to reflect the new 'page-size' property and the legacy 'size' property. This would involve updating the specification to include the new property and to clarify the behavior of the 'size' property.

Q: What is the current status of this proposal?

A: The proposal to make 'size' a legacy alias of 'page-size' is currently being discussed in the W3C CSS Working Group. The group is considering the proposal and gathering feedback from developers and browser vendors.

Q: How can developers provide feedback on this proposal?

A: Developers can provide feedback on this proposal by commenting on the GitHub issue #820 or by participating in the W3C CSS Working Group. The group is open to feedback and suggestions from developers and browser vendors.

Q: What is the expected timeline for implementing this change?

A: The expected timeline for implementing this change is not yet clear. The W3C CSS Working Group is still discussing the proposal and gathering feedback from developers and browser vendors. Once the proposal is finalized, the implementation timeline will be determined.

In conclusion, making 'size' a legacy alias of 'page-size' would provide a clear and consistent way of specifying the size of the page. This change would require updates to the CSS page specification, browser vendors, and developers. The W3C CSS Working Group is currently discussing the proposal and gathering feedback from developers and browser vendors.