HTML Logical (Phrase) Style Test Page

There are two type of formatting tags available in HTML -- physical and logical (phrase). Physical tags indicate the type of font that is to be used to display the text, while logical fonts describe the type of text, and leave it to the browser to decide how that type of text should be displayed. The preferred method is logical, since it gives browsers greater flexibility in rendering output. Unfortunately, browser support for many of the logical tags is very spotty. In my tests of various browsers, the only consistently supported tags were STRONG and EM. This page illustrates logical style tags.

The logical/phrase elements in HTML are:

Abbreviation: <ABBR>

ABBR is used to indicate abbreviations. It was added in HTML 4.0.

Acronym: ACRONYM

ACRONYM is used to indicate acronyms. It was added in HTML 4.0.

Citation:<CITE>

This paragraph is in a citation tag, and is typically rendered in an italic font.

Code: <CODE>

CODE is intended for code examples, and is typically displayed in a fixed-width font.

Definition: <DFN>

DFN is intended to be used for definitions. Added in HTML 4.0.

Deleted text: DEL

DEL is used to indicate deleted text. Added in HTML 4.0.

Emphasis: <EM>

This paragraph is in an emphasis tag. It is usually displayed in italics.

Inserted text: INS

INS is used to indicate inserted text. Added in HTML 4.0

Keyboard: <KBD>

This paragraph is in a keyboard tag. It is typically displayed in a fixed-width font.

Sample: <SAMP>

This paragraph is in a sample tag. The sample tag is intended for sequences of literal characters and is typically displayed in a fixed-width font.

Strong Emphasis: <STRONG>

Strong Emphasis. It is usually displayed in a boldface font.

Variable Name: <VAR>

Variable Name. This is intended for variable names, and is typically displayed in an italic font.

Bold style. Display text in a “big” font. Italic style. Display text in a “small” font. Strikeout the text. The S element does the same thing. Use typewriter text or fixed-width font. Underline the text. STRIKE, S and U are all deprecated.

Superscripts and subscripts

If x = y^a then y = log_ax.

FONT and BASEFONT

Normal...Big...Bigger...Biggest...Not so big...Big...Normal.

Normal...Small...Smaller...Smallest...Not so small...Small...Normal