All Basic HTML Tags

All Basic HTML Tags

I am often asked what HTML tags are actually allowed in auction site listings, me pages, store fronts and extra store pages. The list of disallowed or "shouldn't use" tags is much shorter and so I have posted it before, but I've decided it might not be a bad idea to list all standard HTML tags and indicate if they are suitable for auction site pages and whether or not they have been officially deprecated; ie: should no longer be used in favor of more suitable methods, especially CSS.

Please note that although form elements are allowed in eBay me pages, auction and store listings, they are not currently supported -- and in fact are disallowed -- in store front and extra store pages. Form elements are indicated with a blue "yes" under the A/S (auction site) heading in the table below. Some usage and acceptability will vary from auction site to auction site.

Note also that this is not a tutorial on the usage of these tags. The "Used For" column in the table below gives minimal information. See other sources, ie: other pages on this site, other tips sites and other reference works for tag usage details.

HTML Tags	A/S	Used For
<a> </a>	yes	anchor or link
<abbr> </abbr>	yes	designates an abbreviation
<acronym> </acronym>	yes	designates an acronym
<address> </address>	yes	desinates contact information
<applet> </applet>	yes	used to call JavaScript - deprecated^**
<area />	yes	defines active readion in an image map
<b> </b>	yes	activates bold text
<base />	no	defines path to current document
<basefont />	yes	sets font rules - deprecated^**
<bdo> </bdo>	n/a	limited browser support
<big> </big>	yes	renders next larger font size
<blockquote> </blockquote>	yes	sets off long quotation
<body> </body>	no	defines the body section of a web page
<br />	yes	forces line break
<button> </button>	n/a	limited browser support
<caption> </caption>	yes	brief description of a table
<center> </center>	yes	centers content - deprecated^**
<cite> </cite>	yes	citation or reference
<code> </code>	yes	display computer code
<col> </col>	yes	shortcut to assinging widths
<colgroup> </colgroup>	yes	groups 'col' assignments
<dd> </dd>	yes	definition part of definition list
<del> </del>	n/a	limited browser support
<dfn> </dfn>	yes	designates defining instance of a term
<dir> </dir>	yes	multi-column lists - deprecated^**
<div> </div>	yes	designates a division within the body
<dl> </dl>	yes	designates a definition list
<dt> </dt>	yes	term part of a definition list
<em> </em>	yes	designates emphasis in text
<fieldset> </fieldset>	n/a	limited browser support
<font> </font>	yes	designate text characteristics - deprecated^**
<form> </form>	yes	container for form elements
<frame />	no	defines and apportions browser window
<frameset> </frameset>	no	contains frame definitions
<h1> </h1>	yes	heading level one
<h2> </h2>	yes	heading level two
<h3> </h3>	yes	heading level three
<h4> </h4>	yes	heading level four
<h5> </h5>	yes	heading level five
<h6> </h6>	yes	heading level six
<head> </head>	no	designates head section of web page
<hr />	yes	hard rule or line
<html> </html>	no	container for entire web page
<i> </i>	yes	renders text as italicized
<iframe> </iframe>	no	creates inline frame
<img />	yes	designates placement of an image file
<input />	yes	form data gathering control
<ins> </ins>	n/a	limited browser support
<isindex />	no	deprecated^**
<kbd;> </kbd>	yes	designates text to type on keyboard
<label> </label>	n/a	limited browser support
<legend> </legend>	n/a	limited browser support
<li> </li>	yes	designates a list item
<link />	no	link to other documents
<map> </map>	yes	container for area elements
<marquee> </marquee>^*	yes	scrolling text or graphics
<menu> </menu>	yes	multi-column lists - deprecated^**
<meta />	no	conveys hidden information
<noframes> </noframes>	no	content for browsers without frames support
<noscript> </noscript>	yes	content for browsers without script support
<object> </object>	yes	replace applet/embed; renders data types
<ol> </ol>	yes	container for ordered lists
<optgroup> </optgroup>	n/a	limited browser support
<option> </option>	yes	select list form element
<p> </p>	yes	designates a paragraph
<param />	yes	pass parameters to object element
<pre> </pre>	yes	preformatted text - displays as entered
<q> </q>	n/a	limited browser support
<s> </s>	yes	renders text as strike through - deprecated^**
<samp> </samp>	yes	designates sample output
<script> </script>	yes	container for script coding
<select> </select>	yes	container for option elements
<small> </small>	yes	renders text one size smaller
<span> </span>	yes	convenience in line container for CSS
<strike> </strike>	yes	renders text as strike through - deprecated^**
<strong> </strong>	yes	designates stronger emphasis than em
<style> </>	no	container for embedded style sheet
<sub> </sub>	yes	renders text as subscript
<sup> </sup>	yes	renders text as superscript
<table> </table>	yes	container for tabular content
<tbody> </tbody>	yes	optional table division designator
<td> </td>	yes	defines table data cell
<textarea> </textarea>	yes	multiline text input control
<tfoot> </tfoot>	n/a	limited browser support
<th> </th>	yes	header titles for table cells
<thead> </thead>	n/a	limited browser support
<title> </title>	no	document working title - not displayed
<tr> </tr>	yes	designates table row of data cells
<tt> </tt>	yes	renders text as monospaced 'teletype'
<u> </u>	yes	renders text underlined - deprecated^**
<ul> </ul>	yes	container for unordered list
<var> </var>	yes	designates content as variable name

^*Although a non-standard tag, I have included marquee due both to it's popularity and that it is supported by most browsers.

^**According to the HTML standard, "A deprecated element or attribute is one that has been outdated by newer constructs. deprecated elements are defined in the reference manual in appropriate locations, but are clearly marked as deprecated. deprecated elements may become obsolete in future versions of HTML." Deprecated elements should, therefore, no longer be used in current coding.

It's always the right time to use good code!

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