Specified value

The specified value of a CSS property is the value it receives from the document's style sheet. The specified value for a given property is determined according to the following rules:

1. If the document's style sheet explicitly specifies a value for the property, the given value will be used.
2. If the document's style sheet doesn't specify a value but it is an inherited property, the value will be taken from the parent element.
3. If none of the above pertain, the element's initial value will be used.

<p>My specified color is given explicitly in the CSS.</p>

<div>
  The specified values of all my properties default to their initial values,
  because none of them are given in the CSS.
</div>

<div class="fun">
  <p>
    The specified value of my font family is not given explicitly in the CSS, so
    it is inherited from my parent. However, the border is not an inheriting
    property.
  </p>
</div>

.fun {
  border: 1px dotted pink;
  font-family: fantasy;
}

p {
  color: green;
}