The title
global attribute contains text representing advisory information related to the element it belongs to.
Some typical uses:
- Labeling
<iframe>
elements for assistive technology - Providing a programmatically associated label for an
<input>
element as a fallback for a real<label>
- Labeling controls in data tables
Additional semantics are attached to the title
attributes of the <link>
, <abbr>
, <input>
, and <menuitem>
elements.
Multiline titles
The title
attribute may contain several lines. Each U+000A LINE FEED
(LF
) character represents a line break. Some caution must be taken, as this means the following renders across two lines:
HTML
<p>Newlines in <code>title</code> should be taken into account, like <abbr title="This is a multiline title">example</abbr>.</p>
Result
Title attribute inheritance
If an element has no title
attribute, then it inherits it from its parent node, which in turn may inherit it from its parent, and so on.
If this attribute is set to the empty string, it means its ancestors' title
s are irrelevant and shouldn't be used in the tooltip for this element.
HTML
<div title="CoolTip"> <p>Hovering here will show βCoolTipβ.</p> <p title="">Hovering here will show nothing.</p> </div>
Result
Accessibility concerns
Use of the title
attribute is highly problematic for:
- People using touch-only devices
- People navigating with keyboards
- People navigating with assistive technology such as screen readers or magnifiers
- People experiencing fine motor control impairment
- People with cognitive concerns
This is due to inconsistent browser support, compounded by the additional assistive technology parsing of the browser-rendered page. If a tooltip effect is desired, it is better to use a more accessible technique that can be accessed with the above browsing methods.
- 3.2.5.1. The title attribute | W3C HTML 5.2: 3. Semantics, structure, and APIs of HTML documents
- Using the HTML title attribute – updated | The Paciello Group
- Tooltips & Toggletips - Inclusive Components
- The Trials and Tribulations of the Title Attribute - 24 Accessibility
Specifications
Specification | Status | Comment |
---|---|---|
HTML Living Standard The definition of 'title' in that specification. |
Living Standard | No change from latest snapshot, HTML 5.1 |
HTML 5.1 The definition of 'title' in that specification. |
Recommendation | Snapshot of HTML Living Standard, no change from HTML5 |
HTML5 The definition of 'title' in that specification. |
Recommendation | Snapshot of HTML Living Standard. From HTML 4.01 Specification, it is now a true global attribute. |
HTML 4.01 Specification The definition of 'title' in that specification. |
Recommendation | Supported on all elements but <base> , <basefont> , <head> , <html> , <meta> , <param> , <script> , and <title> . |
Browser compatibility
Desktop | Mobile | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
title | Chrome Full support Yes | Edge Full support 12 | Firefox Full support Yes | IE Full support Yes | Opera Full support Yes | Safari Full support Yes | WebView Android Full support Yes | Chrome Android Full support Yes | Firefox Android Full support Yes | Opera Android Full support Yes | Safari iOS Full support Yes | Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes |
Multi-line support | Chrome Full support Yes | Edge Full support 12 | Firefox Full support Yes | IE Full support Yes | Opera Full support Yes | Safari Full support Yes | WebView Android Full support Yes | Chrome Android Full support Yes | Firefox Android Full support Yes | Opera Android ? | Safari iOS ? | Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes |
Legend
- Full support
- Full support
- Compatibility unknown
- Compatibility unknown
See also
- All global attributes.
HTMLElement.title
that reflects this attribute.