HTML <code>
Tag
Concept
The <code>
tag in HTML is utilized to represent a piece of computer code within a document. It’s an essential tool for developers, educators, and writers who need to include code snippets in their content. By default, browsers render the content inside the <code>
tag in a monospace font, distinguishing it from regular text.
Implementation
Example 1: Displaying a Code Snippet
Here’s how you can use the <code>
tag to display a simple JavaScriptcode snippet:
<p>The following JavaScript code: <code>let x = 10;</code> initializes a variable with the value 10.</p>
Example 2: Styling the <code>
Element with CSS
You can apply CSS to further style the <code>
element. Here’s an example:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<style>
code {
background-color: lightgray;
padding: 5px;
font-family: monospace;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<p>The following is a code snippet: <code>let x = 10;</code></p>
</body>
</html>
Try it out below:

This will add a light gray background and some padding to the code snippet.
Attributes
Global Attributes
The <code>
tag supports all the global attributes in HTML.
Event Attributes
The <code>
tag also supports all the event attributes in HTML.
Browser Support
Browser | Support |
---|---|
Chrome | Yes |
Firefox | Yes |
Safari | Yes |
Opera | Yes |
IE | Yes |
Default CSS Settings
Most browsers will display the <code>
element with the following default CSS settings:
code {
font-style: monospace;
}
Conclusion
The <code>
tag is a valuable tool for web developers, educators, and content creators who need to include code snippets within their HTML documents. It provides semantic meaning and can be styled to fit the overall design of the page.
It’s a vital tag for anyone working with code and wanting to present it in a clear and professional manner within a web page.