OpenType font attributes

Last updated on Jun 2, 2026

Find available OpenType features and their typographic effects in Adobe InDesign.

Consult this reference when selecting OpenType features for character or paragraph styles, or when deciding which typographic refinements to apply to your text. OpenType attribute availability varies by font; not all fonts include all features.

Adobe InDesign provides access to OpenType font features through the Character panel menu or directly via in-context badges when text is selected. Features not supported in the current font appear in brackets, such as [Swash].

Attribute

Effect

Discretionary Ligatures

Activates optional ligatures beyond standard f-ligatures.

Fractions

Converts slash-separated numbers to proper fraction glyphs.

Ordinal

Applies superscript formatting to ordinal indicators.

Swash

Substitutes characters with decorative swash alternates.

Titling Alternates

Uses letterforms designed specifically for large sizes.

Contextual Alternates

Automatically substitutes glyphs based on surrounding letters.

All Small Caps

Converts all letters to small capital forms.

Slashed Zero

Distinguishes zero from capital O with a slash.

Stylistic Sets

Applies coordinated alternate character designs.

Positional Forms

Inserts the right character variation for accurate cursive script display.

Superscript/Superior, Subscript/Inferior

Adjusts number placement to create visually balanced fractions. If an OpenType font doesn’t include these glyphs for non-standard fractions, consider using the Numerator and Denominator attributes.

Numerator, Denominator

Formats non‑standard fractions (such as 4/13 or 99/100) by assigning proper numerator and denominator forms.

Tabular Lining

Uses uniform-width, full-height numerals.

Proportional Oldstyle

Combines oldstyle figures with proportional spacing.

Proportional Lining

Full-height numerals with variable widths.

Tabular Oldstyle

Formats varying‑height digits to share equal widths for clean tables.

Default Figure Style

Uses the default figure style of the current font for figure glyphs.