HTML Tag Cheat Sheet

Web page documents are created with with a very basic programming language called HyperText Mark-up Language, frequently shortened to the acronym 'HTML.' This easy-to-learn language consists of special formatting commands, called 'Tags.' These tags are read and interpreted by Web Browser software, such as Netscape, Mosaic, or Internet Explorer, and the browser (hopefully) displays the document as the creator intended it to appear. With HTML, creating a Web page can be as simple as placing the tag meaning 'HTML document' at the top,

<HTML> placing the tag meaning the body of the document beneath it, <BODY> typing the text you want to display, and closing the page by placing the end-body tag and the end page tag at the bottom of the page, </BODY> </HTML> This is the most basic of Web documents, of course, but it works, as many sites can attest. There are many other tags, each one adding another element of formatting to the page. The following is a list of the formatting tags most frequently used and understood by the most popular browsers.

<!-- Comment here -->
This is used to place comments on the web page. It is not displayed to the viewer, but helps the creator document different portions of the page, allowing it to be modified more easily.
<!DOCTYPE document type>
This is used before the "HTML" tag to identify the level of HTML formatting used on the page.
<A HREF="Insert URL here"></A>
This tag inserts a hypertext link to another document on the Web.
<A NAME="Anchor name here"></A>
This tag inserts a hypertext link to an anchor point within the document.
<ADDRESS> Insert address & name </ADDRESS>
This tag identifies the address, name, email information, etc. of the document's author, and is usually placed at the bottom of the page.
<APPLET CODE= "Applet filename"></APPLET>
This tag allows a Java(tm) applet to be loaded on the page.
<B> Bold text here </B>
This tag makes text enclosed within it appear as a heavier type.
<BASE HREF="Insert home URL here">
This tag defines the location to load the page from, the 'homebase' of the document.
<BASEFONT SIZE=1...7>
This tag specifies the base size of the text displayed. See for information on adjusting the size in different places within the document.
<BGSOUND Source="Sound filename">
This tag loads a background sound file to be played. It can be modified with the tag to define how many times it is repeated.
<BIG> Large text here</BIG>
This tag allows any text placed within it to be displayed as larger than the surrounding text.
<BLINK> Blinking text here <BLINK>
This tag causes the text displayed within it to blink repeatedly. Note: using this tag is almost guaranteed to get you large amount of hate mail!
<BLOCKQUOTE> Quoted text here </BLOCKQUOTE>
This tag is used to contain text quoted from another source.
<BODY> Your document here </BODY>
This tag is used to enclose your entire document, with the exception of the heading and the address.
<BR>
This tag inserts a line break, and places the text following it on the next line.
<CAPTION> Table caption here </CAPTION>
This tag defines a table's caption, or heading.
<CENTER> Text to be centered here </CENTER>
This tag displays the text enclosed within it centered on the line, or lines, it occupies.
<CODE> Insert program code example here </CODE>
This tag encloses plaintext examples of program code.
<COMMENT> Comments here </COMMENT>
This tag encloses non-displaying comments.
<DD>
This tag marks the definition line in a definition list.
<DIR> Directory List items here </DIR>
This tag defines directory list elements. A directory list element is used to present a list of items containing up to 20 characters each.
<DL>Definition List here</DL>
This tag encloses a definition list. A definition list consists of terms and term definitions.
<DT>
This tag marks a definition list term, or item.
<EM> Emphasized text here </EM>
This tag causes text within it to be displayed as italicized.
<FONT=+ or - > Different size text here </FONT>
This tag causes the text within it to display as smaller or larger than the basefont size.
<FORM></FORM>
This tag is used to delimit a data input form.
<FRAME></FRAME>
This tag defines a particular section, or "frame", within the frameset.
<FRAMESET></FRAMESET>
This tag defines the layout of the page's frames.
<H1 ... 6></H1 ... 6>
This tag marks text as a header, thereby increasing it's size and giving it the "BOLD" attribute.
<HEAD></HEAD>
This tag encloses information about the document. Information entered here does not display, with the exception of the "TITLE".
<HR>
This tag inserts a Head Rule, a line separating one section of text from another.
<HTML></HTML>
This tag defines the page as a HTML document. It is the tag that encloses the entire page's contents.
<I></I>
This tag causes text within it to be displayed as italicized.
<IMG Source="..Image Filename Here..">
This tag inserts an image or animation in the document.
<INPUT TYPE=></INPUT>
This tag element represents a field whose contents can be edited by the viewer.
<ISINDEX>
This tag tells the viewer's browser that the document is an index document and is searchable.
<KBD></KBD>
This tag indicates text to be typed by a user.
<LI>
This tag indicates a list item.
<LISTING></LISTING>
This tag is used to present blocks of text in fixed-width font.
<MENU></MENU>
This tag defines a menu list, a list of items with typically one line per item.
<META>
This tag is used within the "HEAD" element to embed any useful information not defined by other HTML elements.
<NOBR></NOBR>
This tag insert a non-linebreaking space.
<NOFRAMES></NOFRAMES>
This tag encloses information for web browsers that don't support frames.
<OL></OL>
This tag encloses list items in an ordered list.
<OPTION>
This tag can only occur within a "SELECT" element. It represents one choice: "DISABLED," "SELECTED," and "VALUE."
<P></P>
This tag indicates the end of a paragraph, and inserts a blank line.
<PRE></PRE>
This tag encloses pre-formatted text.
<S></S>
This tag indicates the enclosed text should be displayed with a horizontal line striking through the text.
<SAMP></SAMP>
This tag causes the enclosed text to be displayed as literal characters, without inserting a line break.
<SELECT></SELECT>
This tag allows the user to chose one of a set of alternatives described by textual labels.
<SMALL></SMALL>
This tag causes the enclosed text to display as a smaller font.
<STRIKE></STRIKE>
This tag indicates the enclosed text should be displayed with a horizontal line striking through the text.
<STRONG></STRONG>
This tag causes the enclosed text to be displayed as darker and heavier than the surrounding text.
<SUB></SUB>
This tag causes the enclosed text to display as subscript.
<SUP></SUP>
This tag causes the enclosed text to display as superscript.
<TABLE></TABLE>
This tag encloses all other table elements within a table.
<TD></TD>
This tag defines table data.
<TEXTAREA></TEXTAREA>
This tag allows users to enter more than one line of text.
<TH></TH>
This tag defines a table header.
<TITLE></TITLE>
This tag encloses the documents title, and is required for all HTML documents.
<TR></TR>
This tag defines a table row.
<TT></TT>
This tag causes text enclosed within it to display as fixed-width typewriter font.
<U></U>
This tag causes the text inclosed within to display as underlined.
<UL></UL>
This tag encloses list items in an unordered list.
<VAR></VAR>
This tag indicates a variable name, and displays text enclosed within it to display as italicized.
<WBR></WBR>
This tag defines a Word Break, it specifies where a browser is allowed to hyphenate a word if neccessary.
<XMP>
This tag defines an Example, and causes text enclosed within it to display exactly as typed.

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This page was last updated on - Mar. 1997. "Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore!"
Copyright © 1997 Lia Wolf-Gentry A member of The HTML Writers Guild 1