HTML contains several elements for defining text with a special meaning.
HTML Formatting Elements
Formatting elements were designed to display special types of text:
<b>- Bold text<strong>- Important text<i>- Italic text<em>- Emphasized text<mark>- Marked text<small>- Smaller text<del>- Deleted text<ins>- Inserted text<sub>- Subscript text<sup>- Superscript text
HTML <b> and <strong> Elements
The HTML <b> element defines bold text, without any extra importance.
The HTML <strong> element defines text with strong importance. The content inside is typically displayed in bold.
HTML <i> and <em> Elements
The HTML <i> element defines a part of text in an alternate voice or mood. The content inside is typically displayed in italic.
Tip: The <i> tag is often used to indicate a technical term, a phrase from another language, a thought, a ship name, etc.
The HTML <em> element defines emphasized text. The content inside is typically displayed in italic.
Tip: A screen reader will pronounce the words in <em> with an emphasis, using verbal stress.
Example
<em>This text is emphasized</em>
HTML <small> Element
The HTML <small> element defines smaller text:
HTML <mark> Element
The HTML <mark> element defines text that should be marked or highlighted:
HTML <del> Element
The HTML <del> element defines text that has been deleted from a document. Browsers will usually strike a line through deleted text:
HTML <ins> Element
The HTML <ins> element defines a text that has been inserted into a document. Browsers will usually underline inserted text:
HTML <sub> Element
The HTML <sub> element defines subscript text. Subscript text appears half a character below the normal line, and is sometimes rendered in a smaller font. Subscript text can be used for chemical formulas, like H2O:
HTML <sup> Element
The HTML <sup> element defines superscript text. Superscript text appears half a character above the normal line, and is sometimes rendered in a smaller font. Superscript text can be used for footnotes, like WWW[1]:
HTML Exercises
HTML Text Formatting Elements
| Tag | Description |
|---|---|
| <b> | Defines bold text |
| <em> | Defines emphasized text |
| <i> | Defines a part of text in an alternate voice or mood |
| <small> | Defines smaller text |
| <strong> | Defines important text |
| <sub> | Defines subscripted text |
| <sup> | Defines superscripted text |
| <ins> | Defines inserted text |
| <del> | Defines deleted text |
| <mark> | Defines marked/highlighted text |
For a complete list of all available HTML tags, visit our HTML Tag Reference.
Video: HTML Formatting
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