The HTML 4 attributes

Here are all attributes that may be used within HTML tags.

means that this attribute is required with the given tags.

means that this attribute is deprecated, usually because the corresponding tags are also deprecated.

CDATA is a sequence of characters from the document character set and may include character entities.

Pixel is an integer that represents the number of pixels of the canvas (screen, paper).

Length may be either pixels or a percentage of the available horizontal or vertical space.

MultiLength may be a length or a relative length. A relative length has the form "i*", where "i" is an integer.

Datetime is a date/time represented with the legal format: YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ssTZD (see the complete type definition for Datetime).

FrameTarget is the name of a frame or one of these reserved words: _blank (new, unnamed window), _self (the current frame that contains referer), _parent (immediate FRAMESET parent of the current frame), _top (full, original window).

MediaDesc is a media descriptor. A list of recognized media descriptors: screen, tty, tv, projection, handheld, print, braille, aural. See http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/types.html#type-media-descriptors.

Longer descriptions for these types here: http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/types.html.

N.B.: the attribute bordercolor, often used with tables, has never been officially defined in HTML. It is actually an improvement from Microsoft and Netscape to change the color of tables' borders. To do this, you should use style sheets (see tables).

		name	tags	format/value	comment
		abbr	TD, TH	text	abbreviation for header cell
		accept-charset	FORM	charsets	list of supported charsets
		accept	FORM, INPUT	content types	list of MIME types for file upload
		accesskey	A, AREA, BUTTON, INPUT, LABEL, LEGEND, TEXTAREA	character	accessibility key character
		action	FORM	URI	server-side form handler
		align	CAPTION	top, bottom, left, right	relative to table
		align	APPLET, IFRAME, IMG, INPUT, OBJECT	bottom, middle, top, left, right	vertical or horizontal alignment
		align	LEGEND	top, bottom, left, right	relative to fieldset
		align	TABLE	left, center, right	table position relative to window
		align	HR	left, center, right	horizontal alignment of the rule
		align	DIV, H1, H2, H3, H4, H5, H6, P	left, center, right, justify	align, text alignment
		align	COL, COLGROUP, TBODY, TD, TFOOT, TH, THEAD, TR	left, center, right, justify, char	alignment of data and the justification of text in a cell
		alink	BODY	color	color of selected links
		alt	APPLET	text	short description
		alt	AREA, IMG	text	short description
		alt	INPUT	CDATA	short description
		archive	APPLET	CDATA	comma-separated archive list
		archive	OBJECT	CDATA	space-separated list of URIs
		axis	TD, TH	CDATA	comma-separated list of related headers
		background	BODY	URI	texture tile for document background
		bgcolor	TABLE	color	background color for cells
		bgcolor	TR	color	background color for row
		bgcolor	TD, TH	color	cell background color
		bgcolor	BODY	color	document background color
		border	TABLE	pixels	frame width around table
		border	IMG, OBJECT	pixels	link border width
		cellpadding	TABLE	length	spacing within cells
		cellspacing	TABLE	length	spacing between cells
		char	COL, COLGROUP, TBODY, TD, TFOOT, TH, THEAD, TR	character	alignment char, e.g. char=":"
		charoff	COL, COLGROUP, TBODY, TD, TFOOT, TH, THEAD, TR	length	offset for alignment char
		charset	A, LINK, SCRIPT	charset	char encoding of linked resource
		checked	INPUT	no value	for radio buttons and check boxes
		cite	BLOCKQUOTE, Q	URI	URI for source document or msg
		cite	DEL, INS	URI	info on reason for change
		class	all elements but BASE, BASEFONT, HEAD, HTML, META, PARAM, SCRIPT, STYLE, TITLE	CDATA	space-separated list of classes
		classid	OBJECT	URI	identifies an implementation
		clear	BR	left, all, right, none	control of text flow. Default is none.
		code	APPLET	CDATA	applet class file
		codebase	OBJECT	URI	base URI for classid, data, archive
		codebase	APPLET	URI	optional base URI for applet
		codetype	OBJECT	content type	content type for code
		color	BASEFONT, FONT	color	text color
		cols	FRAMESET	MultiLengths	list of lengths, default: 100% (1 col)
		cols	TEXTAREA	number	the visible width in average character widths
		colspan	TD, TH	number	number of cols spanned by cell. Default is 1.
		compact	DIR, DL, MENU, OL, UL	no value	reduced interitem spacing
		content	META	CDATA	associated information
		coords	AREA	lengths	comma-separated list of lengths
		coords	A	lengths	for use with client-side image maps
		data	OBJECT	URI	reference to object's data
		datetime	DEL, INS	Datetime	date and time of change
		declare	OBJECT	no value	declare but don't instantiate flag
		defer	SCRIPT	no value	UA may defer execution of script
		dir	all elements but APPLET, BASE, BASEFONT, BDO, BR, FRAME, FRAMESET, IFRAME, PARAM, SCRIPT	ltr, rtl	direction for weak/neutral text
		dir	BDO	ltr, rtl	directionality
		disabled	BUTTON, INPUT, OPTGROUP, OPTION, SELECT, TEXTAREA	no value	unavailable in this context
		enctype	FORM	content type	the content type used to submit the form to the server. Default is "application/x-www-form-urlencoded".
		face	BASEFONT, FONT	CDATA	comma-separated list of font names
		for	LABEL	ID	matches field ID value
		frame	TABLE	void, above, below, hsides, lhs, rhs, vsides, box, border	which parts of frame to render
		frameborder	FRAME, IFRAME	1, 0	request frame borders? Default is 1.
		headers	TD, TH	IDs	list of id's for header cells
		height	IFRAME	length	frame height
		height	TD, TH	length	height for cell
		height	IMG, OBJECT	length	override height
		height	APPLET	length	initial height
		href	A, AREA, LINK	URI	URI for linked resource
		href	BASE	URI	URI that acts as base URI
		hreflang	A, LINK	language code	language code
		hspace	APPLET, IMG, OBJECT	pixels	horizontal gutter
		http-equiv	META	name	HTTP response header name
		id	all elements but BASE, HEAD, HTML, META, SCRIPT, STYLE, TITLE	ID	document-wide unique id
		ismap	IMG, INPUT	no value	use server-side image map
		label	OPTION	text	for use in hierarchical menus
		label	OPTGROUP	text	for use in hierarchical menus
		lang	all elements but APPLET, BASE, BASEFONT, BR, FRAME, FRAMESET, IFRAME, PARAM, SCRIPT	language code	language code
		language	SCRIPT	CDATA	predefined script language name
		link	BODY	color	color of links
		longdesc	IMG	URI	link to long description (complements alt)
		longdesc	FRAME, IFRAME	URI	link to long description (complements title)
		marginheight	FRAME, IFRAME	pixels	margin height in pixels
		marginwidth	FRAME, IFRAME	pixels	margin width in pixels
		maxlength	INPUT	number	max chars for text fields
		media	STYLE	MediaDesc	designed for use with these media
		media	LINK	MediaDesc	for rendering on these media
		method	FORM	GET, POST	HTTP method used to submit the form. Default is GET.
		multiple	SELECT	no value	multiple selection or not in this SELECT. Default is single selection
		name	BUTTON, TEXTAREA	CDATA	assigns the control name
		name	APPLET	CDATA	allows applets to find each other
		name	SELECT	CDATA	field name
		name	FORM	CDATA	name of form for scripting
		name	FRAME, IFRAME	CDATA	name of frame for targetting
		name	IMG	CDATA	name of image for scripting
		name	A	CDATA	named link end
		name	INPUT, OBJECT	CDATA	submit as part of form
		name	MAP	CDATA	for reference by usemap
		name	PARAM	CDATA	property name
		name	META	name	metainformation name
		nohref	AREA	no value	this region has no action
		noresize	FRAME	no value	allow users to resize frames?
		noshade	HR	no value	the rule is rendered in a solid color rather than as the traditional two-color "groove"
		nowrap	TD, TH	no value	suppress word wrap
		object	APPLET	CDATA	serialized applet file
		onblur	A, AREA, BUTTON, INPUT, LABEL, SELECT, TEXTAREA	script data	the element lost the focus
		onchange	INPUT, SELECT, TEXTAREA	script data	the element value was changed
		onclick	all elements but APPLET, BASE, BASEFONT, BDO, BR, FONT, FRAME, FRAMESET, HEAD, HTML, IFRAME, ISINDEX, META, PARAM, SCRIPT, STYLE, TITLE	script data	a pointer button was clicked
		ondblclick	all elements but APPLET, BASE, BASEFONT, BDO, BR, FONT, FRAME, FRAMESET, HEAD, HTML, IFRAME, ISINDEX, META, PARAM, SCRIPT, STYLE, TITLE	script data	a pointer button was double clicked
		onfocus	A, AREA, BUTTON, INPUT, LABEL, SELECT, TEXTAREA	script data	the element got the focus
		onkeydown	all elements but APPLET, BASE, BASEFONT, BDO, BR, FONT, FRAME, FRAMESET, HEAD, HTML, IFRAME, ISINDEX, META, PARAM, SCRIPT, STYLE, TITLE	script data	a key was pressed down
		onkeypress	all elements but APPLET, BASE, BASEFONT, BDO, BR, FONT, FRAME, FRAMESET, HEAD, HTML, IFRAME, ISINDEX, META, PARAM, SCRIPT, STYLE, TITLE	script data	a key was pressed and released
		onkeyup	all elements but APPLET, BASE, BASEFONT, BDO, BR, FONT, FRAME, FRAMESET, HEAD, HTML, IFRAME, ISINDEX, META, PARAM, SCRIPT, STYLE, TITLE	script data	a key was released
		onload	FRAMESET	script data	all the frames have been loaded
		onload	BODY	script data	the document has been loaded
		onmousedown	all elements but APPLET, BASE, BASEFONT, BDO, BR, FONT, FRAME, FRAMESET, HEAD, HTML, IFRAME, ISINDEX, META, PARAM, SCRIPT, STYLE, TITLE	script data	a pointer button was pressed down
		onmousemove	all elements but APPLET, BASE, BASEFONT, BDO, BR, FONT, FRAME, FRAMESET, HEAD, HTML, IFRAME, ISINDEX, META, PARAM, SCRIPT, STYLE, TITLE	script data	a pointer was moved within
		onmouseout	all elements but APPLET, BASE, BASEFONT, BDO, BR, FONT, FRAME, FRAMESET, HEAD, HTML, IFRAME, ISINDEX, META, PARAM, SCRIPT, STYLE, TITLE	script data	a pointer was moved away
		onmouseover	all elements but APPLET, BASE, BASEFONT, BDO, BR, FONT, FRAME, FRAMESET, HEAD, HTML, IFRAME, ISINDEX, META, PARAM, SCRIPT, STYLE, TITLE	script data	a pointer was moved onto
		onmouseup	all elements but APPLET, BASE, BASEFONT, BDO, BR, FONT, FRAME, FRAMESET, HEAD, HTML, IFRAME, ISINDEX, META, PARAM, SCRIPT, STYLE, TITLE	script data	a pointer button was released
		onreset	FORM	script data	the form was reset
		onselect	INPUT, TEXTAREA	script data	some text was selected
		onsubmit	FORM	script data	the form was submitted
		onunload	FRAMESET	script data	all the frames have been removed
		onunload	BODY	script data	the document has been removed
		profile	HEAD	URI	named dictionary of meta info
		prompt	ISINDEX	text	prompt message
		readonly	TEXTAREA	no value	prohibits changes to the control
		readonly	INPUT	no value	for text and passwd
		rel	A, LINK	link types	forward link types
		rev	A, LINK	link types	reverse link types
		rows	FRAMESET	MultiLengths	list of lengths, default: 100% (1 row)
		rows	TEXTAREA	number
		rowspan	TD, TH	number	number of rows spanned by cell. Default is 1.
		rules	TABLE	none, groups, rows, cols, all	rulings between rows and cols. Default is none.
		scheme	META	CDATA	select form of content
		scope	TD, TH	row, col, rowgroup, colgroup	scope covered by header cells
		scrolling	FRAME, IFRAME	yes, no, auto	scrollbar or none. Default is auto.
		selected	OPTION	no value
		shape	AREA	rect, circle, poly, default	controls interpretation of coords. Default is rect.
		shape	A	rect, circle, poly, default	for use with client-side image maps. Default is rect.
		size	HR	pixels	height of the rule
		size	FONT	[+|-]nn (e.g. size="+1", size="4")	font size
		size	INPUT	CDATA	width of the control. In pixels except for text and password (number of characters).
		size	BASEFONT	CDATA	base font size for FONT elements
		size	SELECT	number	rows visible
		span	COL	number	COL attributes affect N columns. Default is 1.
		span	COLGROUP	number	default number of columns in group. Default is 1.
		src	SCRIPT	URI	URI for an external script
		src	INPUT	URI	for fields with images
		src	FRAME, IFRAME	URI	source of frame content
		src	IMG	URI	URI of image to embed
		standby	OBJECT	text	message to show while loading
		start	OL	number	starting sequence number
		style	all elements but BASE, BASEFONT, HEAD, HTML, META, PARAM, SCRIPT, STYLE, TITLE	style sheet	associated style info
		summary	TABLE	text	purpose/structure for speech output
		tabindex	A, AREA, BUTTON, INPUT, OBJECT, SELECT, TEXTAREA	number	position in tabbing order
		target	A, AREA, BASE, FORM, LINK	FrameTarget	render in this frame
		text	BODY	color	document text color
		title	all elements but BASE, BASEFONT, HEAD, HTML, META, PARAM, SCRIPT, TITLE	text	advisory title
		type	A, LINK	content type	advisory content type
		type	OBJECT	content type	content type for data
		type	PARAM	content type	content type for value when valuetype=ref
		type	SCRIPT	content type	content type of script language
		type	STYLE	content type	content type of style language
		type	INPUT	text, password, checkbox, radio, submit, reset, file, hidden, image, button	what kind of widget is needed. Default is text.
		type	LI	disc, square, circle (for UL), 1, A, a, I, i (for OL)	list item style
		type	OL	1, A, a, I, i	numbering style
		type	UL	disc, square, circle	bullet style
		type	BUTTON	button, submit, reset	for use as form button. Default is submit.
		usemap	IMG, INPUT, OBJECT	URI	use client-side image map
		valign	COL, COLGROUP, TBODY, TD, TFOOT, TH, THEAD, TR	top, middle, bottom, baseline	vertical alignment in cells
		value	INPUT	CDATA	Specify for radio buttons and checkboxes
		value	OPTION	CDATA	defaults to element content
		value	PARAM	CDATA	property value
		value	BUTTON	CDATA	sent to server when submitted
		value	LI	number	reset sequence number
		valuetype	PARAM	data, ref, object	how to interpret value. Default is data.
		version	HTML	CDATA	the HTML version used for this document
		vlink	BODY	color	color of visited links
		vspace	APPLET, IMG, OBJECT	pixels	vertical gutter
		width	HR	length
		width	IFRAME	length	frame width
		width	IMG, OBJECT	length	override width
		width	TABLE	length	table width
		width	TD, TH	length	width for cell
		width	APPLET	length	initial width
		width	COL	MultiLength	column width specification
		width	COLGROUP	MultiLength	default width for enclosed COLs
		width	PRE	number	suggested width in number of characters for the rendering of the PRE block

References

• the W3C's list of attributes
• types definitions
• the HTML 4 DTD

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