HTML meta tag

From http://www.w3schools.com (Copyright Refsnes Data)

# HTML <meta> tag

## Example

Describe metadata within an HTML document:

<head>
<meta name="description" content="Free Web tutorials" />
<meta name="keywords" content="HTML,CSS,XML,JavaScript" />
<meta name="author" content="Hege Refsnes" />
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=ISO-8859-1" />
</head>

Try it yourself!

## Definition and Usage

Metadata is information about data.

The <meta> tag provides metadata about the HTML document. Metadata will not be displayed on the page, but will be machine parsable.

Meta elements are typically used to specify page description, keywords, author of the document, last modified, and other metadata.

The <meta> tag always goes inside the head element.

The metadata can be used by browsers (how to display content or reload page), search engines (keywords), or other web services.

## Browser Support

The <meta> tag is supported in all major browsers.

## Differences Between HTML and XHTML

In HTML the <meta> tag has no end tag.

In XHTML the <meta> tag must be properly closed.

## Tips and Notes

Note: Metadata is always passed as name/value pairs.

## Required Attributes

DTD indicates in which DTD the attribute is allowed. S=Strict, T=Transitional, and F=Frameset.

Attribute | Value | Description | DTD
--- | --- | --- | ---
content | text | Specifies the content of the meta information | STF

## Optional Attributes

Attribute | Value | Description | DTD
--- | --- | --- | ---
http-equiv | content-type content-style-type expires refresh set-cookie | Provides an HTTP header for the information in the content attribute | STF

name

author
description
keywords
generator
revised
others

Provides a name for the information in the content attribute

STF

scheme | format/URI | Specifies a scheme to be used to interpret the value of the content attribute | STF

## Standard Attributes

dir, lang, xml:lang

For a full description, go to Standard Attributes.

From http://www.w3schools.com (Copyright Refsnes Data)