<keygen>
Obsolete
An input that generated a key pair; every browser has removed it.
This tag has been retired from the standard. Do not use it in new pages — it is here for reading old ones.
| How to write it | <keygen> |
|---|---|
| Closing tag | — |
| Void element | Yes — no closing tag |
| Common attributes | name, challenge |
| Category | Obsolete |
How to read this
- Most tags come in pairs, opening and closing. Only tags with no content — img, br — are left unclosed.
- Writing </br> for a void element does nothing useful; the browser ignores it or adds an empty line.
- Appearance is CSS’s job. A tag says what something is; bold or italic is only the consequence.
- Choosing the tag that matches the meaning helps search engines and screen readers alike. Wrapping everything in div throws that information away.
Frequently asked questions
Q. What is the HTML <keygen> tag?
An input that generated a key pair; every browser has removed it.
Q. How do you write <keygen>?
As <keygen>. It has no content, so there is no closing tag.
Q. Which attributes are common on <keygen>?
name, challenge are the usual ones.
Q. What group does <keygen> belong to?
The obsolete group. It has been retired from the standard, so it does not belong in new pages.