[css-sizing-3][css-images-3] Distinguish intrinsic size's two definitions with two terms

[fantasai]

We have used the term “intrinsic size” to refer to two slightly different concepts (that overlap) in our spec:

• the inherent size of a replaced element (which sometimes exists)
• min-content and max-content sizes (which always exist, and are derived from the content)

We need to have separate terms for these so there's no confusion.

[fantasai]

Related discussion #5032 (comment)

[SimonSapin]

In Servo code we’ve been using "intrinsic sizes" for the optional width, optional height, and optional ratio inherent to replaced elements, and "content sizes" for min-content and max-content (per the term used in those keywords). I’m not super happy with the latter since it’s easy to confuse with the (computed or used) size of the content area https://drafts.csswg.org/css2/box.html#box-content-area

[fantasai]

HTML spec seems to use the term “natural width” and “natural height” for the first concept, so maybe “natural size” for the intrinsic size of replaced elements and “intrinsic size”for the content-based sizes?

A few other options from the thesaurus include “inherent”, “innate”, “essential”, and “inbuilt”. Maybe “inbuilt” since we're talking about sizing information built into the replaced element...?

[rachelandrew]

I think I've been using natural size when describing replaced elements, certainly when teaching in person/online. "The natural size of the image ..." referring to the actual dimensions of the the thing. It may be that came from reading the HTML spec at some point if that is how they are described there. So I'd agree with @fantasai to use natural size for replaced elements and intrinsic size for content.

[SimonSapin]

Natural size sounds good to me, and consistency with HTML seems worthwhile.

HTML defines natural size as density-corrected. I think we want that.

When an img element has a current pixel density that is not 1.0, the element's image data must be treated as if its resolution, in device pixels per CSS pixels, was the current pixel density. The image's density-corrected intrinsic width and height are the intrinsic width and height after taking into account the current pixel density.

This is based on a css-images definition, so changing that may require coordination with HTML.

The density in question is from srcset (through update image data and select an image source algorithms).

[css-meeting-bot]

The CSS Working Group just discussed Distinguish intrinsic size's two definitions with two terms, and agreed to the following:

• RESOLVED: Rename term "intrinsic size" of image with "natural size"
• RESOLVED: Republish WD of css-sizing-3
• RESOLVED: Add emilio as editor of cssom-view

The full IRC log of that discussion

Topic: Distinguish intrinsic size's two definitions with two terms
github: https://github.com//issues/4961
fantasai: we've been using intrinsic size to refer to two different concepts
... one is the size of a replacement element
... the other concept is referring to the min-content and max-content sizes, which always exists for any box, they are determined in some manner
... we need two different terms for this
... the HTML spec uses the term natural width and natural height
q+
... we were thinking to replace the use of intrinsic size as it applies to the inherit size of a replaced element with natural size
... and keep intrinsic size to mean the other
ack florian
q+ to ask if this is a behavior change
+1 for aligning terms across specs
florian: with the new dfn, the intrinsic size of a replacement it would be the natural size and 0 otherwise?
fantasai: no it can lack an intrinsic size
florian: I don't understand
fantasai: you have to distinguish between whether you are taking about a min-content and a max-content size
q+
fantasai: when the natural size of something does not exist, there are rules for determining
q+
ack myles
myles, you wanted to ask if this is a behavior change
myles: is this purely a rename or behavior change?
fantasai: purely terminology in the spec
ack cbiesinger
cbiesinger: this is only for replacements but, don't you need a terminology for non-replaced elements with an aspect ratio because the regular min and max content size will be affected by the aspect ratio, but you also need a way to refer to the original min and max content size because you need that for width and height auto
q?
fantasai: I see what you're talking about, havent' thought about that yet
s/replacements/replaced elements/g
ack heycam
heycam: we should check what the HTML spec says
... and I did, and they return 0
s/width and height auto/min-size auto/
tantek: yep!
q
... I just want to make sure we don't have any confusion by using the same terms
fantasai: I think the DOM APIs can return 0 when there is no natural size
TabAtkins: do the DOM APIs refer to it any other way other than the camelcased form?
heycam: no it refers to JS properties
florian: this is confusing / not good
scribenick: fantasai
fantasai: Their spec is using 'intrinsic size' because that's what our spec uses.
fantasai: when we update our specs, we'll make sure HTML updates their terms to match als
Rossen_: Hearing mostly support for having this clear distinction
Rossen_: Are we leaning towards also accepting the proposed names here, "natural size"?
s/and the return 0/and they return 0 for images that have no natural size/
+1
fantasai: 2 votes in favor from rachelandrew and SimonSapin
+1
Rossen_: I don't see anyone not liking it. Any objections?
actually this confused me quite a bit last year
I remember having exactly this converation with tab in toronto trying to figure it out
RESOLVED: Rename temr "intrinsic size" of image with "natural size"
s/temr/term/
Rossen_: Seems like everything on Sizing 3
Rossen_: Alan has an editorial issue to talk about
Rossen_: With everything we resolved, do we need to republish
fantasai: yes, and
fantasai: That closes all the major issues on this spec, so we'd like to issue a last call for comments and start preparing for CR
astearns: so resolution to publish after all these edits are in?
RESOLVED: Republish WD of css-sizing-3
and start CR process after that
astearns: emilio just volunteered taking on cssom-view at least on the issues he raised
RESOLVED: Add emilio as editor of cssom-view
thank you emilio!
emilio is the best

[fantasai]

Tab and I made the edits for this today. Will need to republish css-images-3 first so that other TR specs can cross-link to it correctly when they're also republished.