<plaintext>
Obsolete
Told the browser to read everything after it as plain text; it can never be closed.
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 | <plaintext></plaintext> |
|---|---|
| Closing tag | </plaintext> |
| Void element | No — it must be closed |
| Common attributes | None in particular |
| 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 <plaintext> tag?
Told the browser to read everything after it as plain text; it can never be closed.
Q. How do you write <plaintext>?
As <plaintext></plaintext>. The opening <plaintext> pairs with the closing </plaintext>.
Q. Which attributes are common on <plaintext>?
None in particular. The global attributes every element has — class, id, style — still apply.
Q. What group does <plaintext> belong to?
The obsolete group. It has been retired from the standard, so it does not belong in new pages.