<plaintext>: The Plain Text element (Deprecated)

Obsolete
This feature is obsolete. Although it may still work in some browsers, its use is discouraged since it could be removed at any time. Try to avoid using it.

The HTML Plaintext Element (<plaintext>) renders everything following the start tag as raw text, ignoring any following HTML. There is no closing tag, since everything after it is considered raw text.

Note: Do not use this element.
  • <plaintext> is deprecated since HTML 2, and not all browsers implemented it. Browsers that did implement it didn't do so consistently.
  • <plaintext> is obsolete in HTML5; browsers that accept it may instead treat it as a <pre> element that still interprets HTML within.
  • If <plaintext> is the first element on the page (other than any non-displayed elements, like <head>), do not use HTML at all. Instead serve a text file with the text/plain MIME-type.
  • Instead of <plaintext>, use the <pre> element or, if semantically accurate (such as for inline text), the <code> element. Escape any <, > and & characters, to prevent browsers inadvertently parsing content the element content as HTML.
  • A monospaced font can be applied to any HTML element via a CSS font-family style with the monospace generic value.

Attributes

This element has no other attributes than the global attributes common to all elements.

DOM interface

This element implements the HTMLElement interface.

Implementation note: In Gecko 1.9.2 and before, Firefox implements the interface HTMLSpanElement for this element.

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
plaintext
Deprecated
Chrome Full support YesEdge Full support 12Firefox Full support 4
Full support 4
Partial support Partial
Notes
Notes Before Firefox 4, this element implemented the HTMLSpanElement interface instead of the standard HTMLElement interface.
IE Full support YesOpera Full support YesSafari Full support YesWebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support YesFirefox Android Full support 4Opera Android Full support YesSafari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support Yes

Legend

Full support
Full support
Deprecated. Not for use in new websites.
Deprecated. Not for use in new websites.
See implementation notes.
See implementation notes.

See also