HTML Level 1 and 2 Manual

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<XMP> Element

Category: Text Blocks
Period: HTML 1 / HTML 2.0
Status: core

Description

Displays example text with markup treated as literal text until the closing tag.

Syntax

<XMP>
<P>This appears as markup text
</XMP>

Attributes

None.

Usage Guidelines

• XMP shows the text between its tags exactly as written, without interpreting any tags inside.
• Use it for showing markup examples where you want the tags visible as characters.
• Close the tag properly; a literal XMP end tag inside ends the block early.

Common Mistakes

• Content after an unclosed XMP may not appear as intended.

Example Code

<XMP>
<H1>This will be shown, not interpreted</H1>
</XMP>

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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