TL;DR — Browser specific CSS prefixes are for adding support for new or experimental CSS properties.
Explaining the use of browser prefixes
You need to learn about browser specific CSS prefixes to make sure that non-standard or experimental properties work. Creators of browsers set support through these prefixes.
Currently, the CSS properties have different browser support. Some of them have issues in older versions and work only in modern browsers.
Here is a list of available browser prefixes for guaranteeing best CSS browser support:
-webkit-: a prefix to make sure that properties work on Chrome, Safari, nearly all iOS browsers, and newer versions of Opera.-moz-: a prefix for Firefox.-o-: a prefix for older versions of Opera.-ms-: a prefix for Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge.
Full list of property browser support
Here is a table specifying the browser compatibility for CSS3 properties:
| Property | IE | Firefox | Chrome | Safari | Opera |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align-content | 11 | 28 | 21 | 9 | 12.1 |
| align-items | 11 | 20 | 21 | 9 | 12.1 |
| align-self | 11 | 20 | 21 | 9 | 12.1 |
| all | 27 | 37 | 24 | ||
| animation | 10 | 16 | 43 | 9 | 30 |
| animation-delay | 10 | 16 | 43 | 9 | 30 |
| animation-direction | 10 | 16 | 43 | 9 | 30 |
| animation-duration | 10 | 16 | 43 | 9 | 30 |
| animation-fill-mode | 10 | 16 | 43 | 4 | 15 |
| animation-iteration-count | 10 | 16 | 43 | 9 | 30 |
| animation-name | 10 | 16 | 43 | 9 | 30 |
| animation-play-state | 10 | 16 | 43 | 9 | 30 |
| animation-timing-function | 10 | 16 | 43 | 9 | 30 |
| backface-visibility | 10 | 16 | 36 | 9 | 23 |
| background | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| background-attachment | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| background-blend-mode | 30 | 35 | 7.1 | 22 | |
| background-clip | 9 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 10.5 |
| background-color | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| background-image | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| background-origin | 9 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 10.5 |
| background-position | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| background-repeat | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| background-size | 9 | 4 | 4 | 4.1 | 10 |
| border | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| border-bottom | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| border-bottom-color | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| border-bottom-left-radius | 9 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 10.5 |
| border-bottom-right-radius | 9 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 10.5 |
| border-bottom-style | 5.5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9.2 |
| border-bottom-width | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| border-collapse | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1.2 | 4 |
| border-color | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| border-image | 11 | 15 | 16 | 6 | 15 |
| border-image-outset | 11 | 15 | 15 | 6 | 15 |
| border-image-repeat | 11 | 15 | 15 | 6 | 15 |
| border-image-slice | 11 | 15 | 15 | 6 | 15 |
| border-image-source | 11 | 15 | 15 | 6 | 15 |
| border-image-width | 11 | 13 | 15 | 6 | 15 |
| border-left | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| border-left-color | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| border-left-style | 5.5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9.2 |
| border-left-width | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| border-radius | 9 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 10.5 |
| border-right | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| border-right-color | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| border-right-style | 5.5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9.2 |
| border-right-width | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| border-spacing | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| border-style | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| border-top | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| border-top-color | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| border-top-left-radius | 9 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 10.5 |
| border-top-right-radius | 9 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 10.5 |
| border-top-style | 5.5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9.2 |
| border-top-width | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| border-width | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| bottom | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| box-decoration-break | 32 | 22 | 6.1 | 11.5 | |
| box-shadow | 9 | 4 | 10 | 5.1 | 10.5 |
| box-sizing | 8 | 29 | 10 | 5.1 | 9.5 |
| break-after | 10 | 11.1 | |||
| break-before | 10 | 11.1 | |||
| break-inside | 10 | 11.1 | |||
| caption-side | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| caret-color | 53 | 57 | 44 | ||
| @charset | 1.5 | 2 | 4 | 9 | |
| clear | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| clip | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| color | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| column-count | 10 | 52 | 50 | 9 | 37 |
| column-fill | 52 | ||||
| column-gap | 10 | 52 | 50 | 9 | 37 |
| column-rule | 10 | 52 | 50 | 9 | 37 |
| column-rule-color | 10 | 52 | 50 | 9 | 37 |
| column-rule-style | 10 | 52 | 50 | 9 | 37 |
| column-rule-width | 10 | 52 | 50 | 9 | 37 |
| column-span | 10 | 50 | 9 | 37 | |
| column-width | 10 | 52 | 50 | 9 | 37 |
| columns | 10 | 52 | 50 | 9 | 37 |
| content | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| counter-increment | 8 | 2 | 4 | 3.1 | 9.6 |
| counter-reset | 8 | 2 | 4 | 3.1 | 9.6 |
| cursor | 5.5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 9.6 |
| direction | 5.5 | 1 | 2 | 1.3 | 9.2 |
| display | 8 | 3 | 4 | 3.1 | 7 |
| empty-cells | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1.2 | 4 |
| filter | 13 | 35 | 53 | 9.1 | 40 |
| flex | 11 | 28 | 29 | 9 | 17 |
| flex-basis | 11 | 28 | 29 | 9 | 17 |
| flex-direction | 11 | 28 | 29 | 9 | 17 |
| flex-flow | 11 | 28 | 29 | 9 | 17 |
| flex-grow | 11 | 28 | 29 | 9 | 17 |
| flex-shrink | 11 | 28 | 29 | 9 | 17 |
| flex-wrap | 11 | 28 | 29 | 9 | 17 |
| float | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| font | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| @font-face | 9 | 3.6 | 4 | 3 | 10 |
| font-family | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| font-feature-settings | 10 | 34 | 16 | 25 | |
| @font-feature-values | 34 | ||||
| font-kerning | 10 | 34 | 32 | 7 | |
| font-language-override | 34 | ||||
| font-size | 5.5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| font-size-adjust | 3 | ||||
| font-stretch | 9 | 9 | 48 | 11 | 35 |
| font-style | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| font-synthesis | 34 | 10 | |||
| font-variant | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| font-variant-alternates | 34 | ||||
| font-variant-caps | 34 | 52 | 39 | ||
| font-variant-east-asian | 34 | ||||
| font-variant-ligatures | 10 | 34 | 34 | 7 | 19 |
| font-variant-numeric | 34 | 52 | 39 | ||
| font-variant-position | 34 | ||||
| font-weight | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1.3 | 3.5 |
| grid | 52 | 57 | 10.1 | 44 | |
| grid-area | 52 | 57 | 10.1 | 44 | |
| grid-auto-columns | 10 | 52 | 57 | 10.1 | 44 |
| grid-auto-flow | 52 | 57 | 44 | ||
| grid-auto-rows | 10 | 52 | 57 | 44 | |
| grid-column | 10 | 52 | 57 | 10.1 | 44 |
| grid-column-end | 10 | 52 | 57 | 44 | |
| grid-column-gap | 52 | 57 | 44 | ||
| grid-column-start | 10 | 52 | 57 | 44 | |
| grid-gap | 52 | 57 | 44 | ||
| grid-row | 10 | 52 | 57 | 10.1 | 44 |
| grid-row-end | 10 | 52 | 57 | 44 | |
| grid-row-gap | 10 | 52 | 57 | 44 | |
| grid-row-start | 10 | 52 | 57 | 44 | |
| grid-template | 52 | 57 | 44 | ||
| grid-template-areas | 52 | 57 | 10.1 | 44 | |
| grid-template-columns | 10 | 52 | 57 | 44 | |
| grid-template-rows | 10 | 52 | 57 | 10.1 | 44 |
| hanging-punctuation | |||||
| height | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| hyphens | 10 | 6 | 13 | 5.1 | |
| image-orientation | 26 | ||||
| image-rendering | 3.6 | 11.6 | |||
| ime-mode | 5 | 3 | |||
| @import | 5.5 | ||||
| isolation | 36 | 41 | 7.1 | 30 | |
| justify-content | 11 | 28 | 29 | 9 | 17 |
| @keyframes | 10 | 16 | 43 | 9 | 30 |
| left | 5.5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| letter-spacing | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| line-break | 5.5 | 1 | |||
| line-height | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| list-style | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| list-style-image | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| list-style-position | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| list-style-type | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| margin | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| margin-bottom | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| margin-left | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| margin-right | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| margin-top | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| mask | 53 | 1 | 4 | 15 | |
| mask-type | 35 | 24 | 7 | 15 | |
| max-height | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| max-width | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| @media | 9 | 3.5 | 21 | 4 | 9 |
| min-height | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| min-width | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| mix-blend-mode | 32 | 41 | 8 | ||
| @namespace | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| object-fit | 36 | 31 | 7.1 | 19 | |
| object-position | 36 | 31 | 19 | ||
| opacity | 9 | 2 | 4 | 3.1 | 9 |
| order | 11 | 28 | 29 | 9 | 17 |
| orphans | 8 | 25 | 9.2 | ||
| outline | 8 | 1.5 | 1 | 1.2 | 7 |
| outline-color | 8 | 1.5 | 1 | 1.2 | 7 |
| outline-offset | 3.5 | 4 | 3 | 10.5 | |
| outline-style | 8 | 1.5 | 1 | 1.2 | 7 |
| outline-width | 8 | 1.5 | 1 | 1.2 | 7 |
| overflow | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| overflow-wrap | 9 | 3.5 | 3 | 9.5 | |
| overflow-x | 9 | 3.5 | 4 | 3 | 9.5 |
| overflow-y | 9 | 4 | 3 | 9.5 | |
| padding | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| padding-bottom | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| padding-left | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| padding-right | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| padding-top | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| @page | 8 | 19 | 5 | 6 | |
| page-break-after | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1.2 | 7 |
| page-break-before | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1.2 | 7 |
| page-break-inside | 8 | 19 | 1 | 1.3 | 7 |
| perspective | 10 | 16 | 36 | 9 | 23 |
| perspective-origin | 10 | 16 | 36 | 9 | 23 |
| pointer-events | 11 | 3.6 | 2 | 4 | 15 |
| position | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1.2 | 4 |
| quotes | 8 | 1.5 | 11 | 5.1 | 4 |
| resize | 5 | 4 | 4 | 15 | |
| right | 5.5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| scroll-behavior | 36 | 61 | |||
| shape-image-treshold | 7 | ||||
| shape-margin | 7 | ||||
| @supports | 22 | 28 | 9 | 12.1 | |
| tab-size | 4 | 21 | 6.1 | 15 | |
| table-layout | 5 | 1 | 14 | 1 | 7 |
| text-align | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| text-align-last | 5.5 | 12 | 35 | ||
| text-combine-upright | 11 | 48 | 48 | 34 | |
| text-decoration | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| text-decoration-color | 36 | 57 | 7.1 | 44 | |
| text-decoration-line | 36 | 57 | 7.1 | 44 | |
| text-decoration-style | 36 | 57 | 44 | ||
| text-emphasis | 46 | 25 | 7.1 | 15 | |
| text-emphasis-color | 46 | 25 | 7.1 | 15 | |
| text-emphasis-position | 46 | 25 | 7.1 | 15 | |
| text-emphasis-style | 46 | 25 | 7.1 | 15 | |
| text-indent | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| text-justify | 5.5 | ||||
| text-orientation | 41 | 48 | 34 | ||
| text-overflow | 6 | 7 | 4 | 3.1 | 11 |
| text-shadow | 10 | 3.5 | 4 | 4 | 9.6 |
| text-transform | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| text-underline-position | 33 | ||||
| top | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| touch-action | 11 | 52 | 36 | 23 | |
| transform | 10 | 16 | 36 | 9 | 23 |
| transform-origin | 10 | 16 | 36 | 9 | 23 |
| transform-style | 11 | 16 | 36 | 9 | 23 |
| transition | 10 | 16 | 26 | 6.1 | 12.1 |
| transition-delay | 10 | 16 | 26 | 6.1 | 12.1 |
| transition-duration | 10 | 16 | 26 | 6.1 | 12.1 |
| transition-property | 10 | 16 | 26 | 6.1 | 12.1 |
| transition-timing-function | 10 | 16 | 26 | 6.1 | 12.1 |
| unicode-bidi | 5.5 | 1 | 2 | 1.3 | 9.2 |
| user-select | 10 | 2 | 54 | 3.1 | 41 |
| vertical-align | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| @viewport | 10 | 29 | 16 | ||
| visibility | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| white-space | 8 | 3.5 | 1 | 3 | 9.5 |
| widows | 8 | 25 | 9.2 | ||
| width | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| will-change | 36 | 36 | 9.1 | 24 | |
| word-break | 5.5 | 15 | 4 | 3.1 | 15 |
| word-spacing | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 |
| word-wrap | 5.5 | 3.5 | 4 | 3.1 | 10.5 |
| writing-mode | 9 | 41 | 8 | 5.1 | 15 |
| z-index | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 |