SmartCodingTips

Deprecated Tags in HTML

Deprecated tags are HTML elements that are no longer recommended in modern HTML (especially HTML5). These tags are either obsolete or replaced by newer, more semantic elements and CSS styling techniques.

Common Deprecated Tags

  • <font> – Use CSS for font styles instead.
  • <center> – Use text-align: center; in CSS.
  • <big>, <small> – Use CSS for font sizing.
  • <u> – Use CSS text-decoration: underline;.
  • <s>, <strike> – Use <del> or CSS for strikethrough.
  • <acronym> – Use <abbr> instead.
  • <frame>, <frameset>, <noframes> – Replaced by CSS layout and iframes.

Why Avoid Deprecated Tags?

  • They are not supported in HTML5.
  • They may not work correctly in modern browsers.
  • They lead to poor accessibility and SEO.
  • Better alternatives exist using CSS and semantic HTML.

Recommended Alternatives

Instead of deprecated tags, use modern HTML and CSS practices. For example:


<!-- Instead of <font color="red"> -->
<p style="color: red;">Text</p>

<!-- Instead of <center> -->
<div style="text-align: center;">Centered Content</div>