HTML <abbr> Element
The <abbr> element represents an abbreviation or acronym. The optional title attribute can provide the full expansion or description of the abbreviation.
Syntax
<abbr title="Expanded meaning">Abbreviation</abbr>The opening and closing tags are both required.
Attributes
The <abbr> element supports the global HTML attributes. It does not have any element-specific attributes.
The global title attribute has special meaning when used with <abbr>: when present, it should contain the full expansion or description of the abbreviation.
Example
The following example identifies HTML as an abbreviation and provides its expanded meaning:
<p><abbr title="HyperText Markup Language">HTML</abbr> is used to structure content on the Web.</p>The browser displays:
HTML is used to structure content on the Web.
Usage Notes
Use the <abbr> element when identifying an abbreviation or acronym can help clarify its meaning or provide useful semantic information.
The title attribute is optional. When it is included, its value should describe the full expansion or meaning of the abbreviation rather than unrelated information.
Browsers may visually distinguish an <abbr> element that has a title attribute, but the exact default appearance can vary.
Accessibility
Do not rely on the title attribute alone when understanding an abbreviation is important. Access to title text varies between devices and assistive technologies, and people using touchscreens or keyboards may not receive the same information as someone using a mouse.
For unfamiliar abbreviations, consider writing the expanded term in the surrounding text the first time it appears, followed by the abbreviation.
Browser Support
Baseline: Widely available indicates a feature has been supported by core browsers for at least 30 months. At this stage, the feature is considered stable and safe for most websites to use without needing to worry about compatibility issues or fallbacks, as it is supported by the vast majority of users' devices and browser versions.
For detailed browser compatibility information, see Can I Use: HTML <abbr> Element .
Related Elements
<dfn> - Represents a term being defined within the surrounding content.