HTML Text Formatting

HTML text formatting elements are used to give meaning to text, not visual styling.
They help browsers, search engines, and screen readers understand how text should be interpreted.

Common Text Formatting Elements

<p>
  This text is 
  <strong>important</strong>, 
  <em>emphasized</em>, 
  <mark>highlighted</mark>, 
  <small>smaller</small>, 
  <del>deleted</del>, 
  <ins>inserted</ins>, 
  and <u>underlined</u>.
</p>

Formatting Elements Explained

TagPurpose
<strong>Important text
<em>Emphasized text
<mark>Highlighted text
<small>Smaller text
<del>Deleted text
<ins>Inserted text
<u>Underlined text

Text Formatting with Attributes

Formatting elements support global attributes.

<strong 
  id="important-text"
  class="highlight"
  title="Important message">
  Read this carefully
</strong>

Attributes Used

  • id → unique identifier
  • class → styling or grouping
  • title → tooltip text

Superscript and Subscript

<p>
  H<sub>2</sub>O is water<br>
  x<sup>2</sup> is a square value
</p>

Tags Used

  • <sub> → subscript
  • <sup> → superscript

Important Notes

  • Use formatting tags for meaning, not design
  • Avoid overusing formatting elements
  • Use CSS for visual styling
  • Proper formatting improves accessibility