HTML <small> Element
The HTML <small> element represents side comments, small print, and supplementary information such as copyright notices, disclaimers, and legal text.
Syntax
<p><small>Copyright © 2026 Example Company. All rights reserved.</small></p>The <small> element requires both an opening and closing tag. Browsers normally display its contents using a smaller font size than the surrounding text.
Attributes
The <small> element supports the global HTML attributes. It does not have any element-specific attributes.
Example
This example uses the <small> element for supplementary copyright information displayed below the main page content.
Usage Notes
Use the <small> element for side comments and supplementary information that is secondary to the surrounding content. Common examples include copyright notices, disclaimers, attribution information, licensing requirements, and legal restrictions.
The <small> element describes the meaning of the content rather than simply requesting a smaller font size. If text should be visually smaller without representing small print or a side comment, use CSS instead.
The element can be used within paragraphs and other text content when only part of the information is supplementary. It can also be used for an entire piece of small-print information, such as a copyright notice in a page footer.
The <small> element does not indicate that its contents are unimportant. Legal notices, conditions, and other small print may still contain important information even though they are secondary to the main content.
Accessibility
Make sure text inside the <small> element remains large enough and has sufficient contrast to be comfortably readable. The browser's default smaller text should not be reduced further when doing so would make the content difficult to read.
Do not rely on smaller text alone to communicate that information is supplementary. The surrounding content should provide enough context for users to understand the purpose of the small print or side comment.
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 <small> Element .
Related Elements
The <small> element is related to the <footer> element, where copyright and legal information commonly appears, and the <p> element for paragraphs that may contain supplementary text.