HTML Level 1 and 2 Manual

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Element Index > Head Metadata

<META> Element

Category: Head Metadata
Period: HTML 2.0
Status: core

Description

Supplies name/value metadata or HTTP-equivalent information.

Syntax

<META NAME="description" CONTENT="Short description">

Attributes

HTTP-EQUIV, NAME, CONTENT.

Usage Guidelines

• Use for description, generator notes or content type information.
• Keep CONTENT short and plain.
• Do not stuff keywords; search engines changed behaviour often.
• Place META in HEAD.

Common Mistakes

• META cannot repair bad visible content.
• HTTP-EQUIV behaviour depended on browser and server.

Example Code

<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META NAME="description" CONTENT="HTML 2.0 manual">

Authoring Note

Write the document first, then test it in a graphical browser and a text browser. The page should remain understandable if images fail, colours are ignored, or the browser uses its own fonts.

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