---
title: Special Functions
introduction: >
  CSS defines many functions, and most of them work just fine with Sass’s normal
  function syntax. They’re parsed as function calls, resolved to [plain CSS
  functions](../../at-rules/function#plain-css-functions), and compiled as-is to
  CSS. There are a few exceptions, though, which have special syntax that can’t
  just be parsed as a [SassScript expression](../structure#expressions). All
  special function calls return [unquoted strings](../../values/strings#unquoted).
table_of_contents: true
complementary_content: |
  <nav aria-labelledby="page-sections" class="page-sections sl-c-list-navigation-wrapper sl-c-list-navigation-wrapper--collapsible">

  <h3 id="page-sections">Page Sections</h3>

  - [<code>url()</code>](#url())
  - [<code>element(),</code> <code>progid:...(),</code> and <code>expression()</code>](#element()%2C-progid%3A...()%2C-and-expression())

  </nav>
---

{% markdown %}
## `url()`

The [`url()` function][] is commonly used in CSS, but its syntax is different
than other functions: it can take either a quoted _or_ unquoted URL. Because an
unquoted URL isn't a valid SassScript expression, Sass needs special logic to
parse it.

[`url()` function]: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/url

If the `url()`'s argument is a valid unquoted URL, Sass parses it as-is,
although [interpolation][] may also be used to inject SassScript values. If it's
not a valid unquoted URL—for example, if it contains [variables][] or [function
calls][]—it's parsed as a normal [plain CSS function call][].

[interpolation]: ../../interpolation
[variables]: ../../variables
[function calls]: ../../at-rules/function
[plain CSS function call]: ../../at-rules/function#plain-css-functions
{% endmarkdown %}

{% codeExample 'url' %}
$roboto-font-path: "../fonts/roboto";

@font-face {
  // This is parsed as a normal function call that takes a quoted string.
  src: url("#{$roboto-font-path}/Roboto-Thin.woff2") format("woff2");

  font-family: "Roboto";
  font-weight: 100;
}

@font-face {
  // This is parsed as a normal function call that takes an arithmetic
  // expression.
  src: url($roboto-font-path + "/Roboto-Light.woff2") format("woff2");

  font-family: "Roboto";
  font-weight: 300;
}

@font-face {
  // This is parsed as an interpolated special function.
  src: url(#{$roboto-font-path}/Roboto-Regular.woff2) format("woff2");

  font-family: "Roboto";
  font-weight: 400;
  }
===
$roboto-font-path: "../fonts/roboto"

@font-face
  // This is parsed as a normal function call that takes a quoted string.
  src: url("#{$roboto-font-path}/Roboto-Thin.woff2") format("woff2")

  font-family: "Roboto"
  font-weight: 100


@font-face
  // This is parsed as a normal function call that takes an arithmetic
  // expression.
  src: url($roboto-font-path + "/Roboto-Light.woff2") format("woff2")

  font-family: "Roboto"
  font-weight: 300


@font-face
  // This is parsed as an interpolated special function.
  src: url(#{$roboto-font-path}/Roboto-Regular.woff2) format("woff2")

  font-family: "Roboto"
  font-weight: 400
{% endcodeExample %}

{{ '## `element()`, `progid:...()`, and `expression()`' | markdown }}

{% compatibility "<1.40.0", false, false, "calc()" %}
LibSass, Ruby Sass, and versions of Dart Sass prior to 1.40.0 parse `calc()` as special syntactic function like `element()`.

Dart Sass versions 1.40.0 and later parse `calc()` as a [calculation].

[calculation]: ../../values/calculations
{% endcompatibility %}

{% compatibility ">=1.31.0 <1.40.0", false, false, "clamp()" %}
LibSass, Ruby Sass, and versions of Dart Sass prior to 1.31.0 parse `clamp()`
as a [plain CSS function] rather than supporting special syntax within it.

[plain CSS function]: ../../at-rules/function#plain-css-functions

Dart Sass versions between 1.31.0 and 1.40.0 parse `clamp()` as special
syntactic function like `element()`.

Dart Sass versions 1.40.0 and later parse `clamp()` as a [calculation].

[calculation]: ../../values/calculations
{% endcompatibility %}

{% markdown %}
The [`element()`] function is defined in the CSS spec, and because its IDs couldbe parsed as colors, they need special parsing.

[`element()`]: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/element

[`expression()`][] and functions beginning with [`progid:`][] are legacy
Internet Explorer features that use non-standard syntax. Although they're no
longer supported by recent browsers, Sass continues to parse them for backwards
compatibility.

[`expression()`]: https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/ie/2008/10/16/ending-expressions/
[`progid:`]: https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/ie/2009/02/19/the-css-corner-using-filters-in-ie8/

Sass allows _any text_ in these function calls, including nested parentheses.
Nothing is interpreted as a SassScript expression, with the exception that
[interpolation][] can be used to inject dynamic values.

[interpolation]: ../../interpolation

{% endmarkdown %}

{% codeExample 'element' %}
$logo-element: logo-bg;

.logo {
background: element(##{$logo-element});
}
===
$logo-element: logo-bg

.logo
background: element(##{$logo-element})
===
.logo {
background: element(#logo-bg);
}
{% endcodeExample %}