HTML <abbr></abbr> Tag


HTML


In this article, we go over the HTML <abbr></abbr> tag.

This tag allows us to give the full-length name of an abbreviation which we use in a web page, so that we can make sure that a user knows what an abbreviation stands for.


Example

BJTs need voltage applied to the base and collector terminals in order to function in a circuit.

In the example above, if you scroll across the word BJTs, a pop-up caption will arise that says, Bipolar Junction Transistors.

This is how the <abbr></abbr> tag works. It can help a user to know exactly what an abbreviation stands for, so that all doubts are cleared. BJTs could stand for a bunch of different stuff, but since we specify bipolar junction transistor, a user knows without a doubt that it's referring to this and not another term. <abbr></abbr> tags are also useful because they relay information to search engines and translation systems. If someone goes to a search engine and types in an abbreviation, by supplying the full-length name of the abbreviation, the search engine knows exactly which term you are talking about. For example, with our abbreviation, BJT, it could refer to Bipolar Junction Transistors, Business Japanese Proficiency Test, or any other terms. By specifying that BJT, in our case, means bipolar junction transistors, the search engines can group it with transistors instead of the Japanese term. Therefore, they can index our page better. It is also helpful for translation, when our page needs to be translated into another language. In order for translation systems to know how to translate it, it must know what the abbreviation stands for.


Code

The HTML code to use with the <abbr></abbr> tag to create the above example is:



The <abbr></abbr> tag goes around the abbreviated element. In the <abbr> tag, we place a title attribute and set it equal to the full name of the abbreviated term. In our case, it is "Bipolar Junction Transistor".

HTML Comment Box is loading comments...