Introduction to <kbd>tag

The <kbd>tag in HTML is used to define keyboard input. It represents a span of text denoting input from the user, typically from a keyboard. This tag is often used in documentation or tutorials to show which keys or combinations of keys users should press.

Key Features of the <kbd>Tag

Semantic Meaning: The <kbd>tag gives semantic meaning to the text it encloses, indicating that it is keyboard input. This helps improve the accessibility and readability of web pages, as screen readers and assistive technologies can identify the content as keyboard input.

Styling: By default, browsers render the text within the <kbd>tag in a monospace font, which is commonly used to represent code or keyboard input. However, the styling can be customized with CSS to match the design of the website.

Usage in Documentation: The <kbd>tag is particularly useful in documentation and educational content where it's necessary to provide instructions involving specific keyboard keys. For example, to instruct a user to press "Ctrl" and "S" to save a file, you could use the <kbd>Ctrl</kbd>+ <kbd>S</kbd>markup to clearly indicate the required keys.

Compatibility: The <kbd>tag is well-supported across all major browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Internet Explorer. This ensures consistent behavior and appearance across different platforms.

Combining with Other Tags: The <kbd>tag can be combined with other HTML tags to enhance content semantics and styling. For example, pairing it with the <samp>tag, which represents sample output from a program, can provide a comprehensive description of a command-line interaction.

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<!-- Kbd Example -->
<p>To save your document, press <kbd class="custom-kbd">Ctrl + S</kbd> on your keyboard.</p>
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/* CSS for Kbd */
    .custom-kbd {
        background-color: #f7f7f7;
        border: 1px solid #ddd;
        padding: 3px 5px;
        border-radius: 3px;
        font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;
        box-shadow: 1px 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
    }

Global Attributes

AttributesDescription
accesskeySpecifies a shortcut key to activate or focus an element.
autocapitalizeControls whether and how text input is automatically capitalized.
classSpecifies one or more class names for the element, allowing CSS styling and JavaScript manipulation.
contenteditableSpecifies whether the content of an element is editable or not.
contextmenuSpecifies a context menu for the element.
dirDefines the text direction. Possible values are "ltr" (left-to-right), "rtl" (right-to-left), and "auto".
draggableSpecifies whether an element is draggable. Possible values are "true" or "false".
enterkeyhintSpecifies the action label or icon to be shown for the enter key on virtual keyboards.
hiddenIndicates that the element is not yet, or is no longer, relevant. The browser does not display elements that have the `hidden` attribute set.
idSpecifies a unique identifier for the element.
inputmodeProvides a hint to browsers for which virtual keyboard configuration to use when editing this element or its descendants.
isAllows you to specify the type of custom element.
langSpecifies the language of the element's content.
nonceA cryptographic nonce ("number used once") that can be used by Content Security Policy (CSP) to determine whether or not a given fetch will be allowed to proceed.
partSpecifies the element’s part in the shadow DOM.
slotAssigns a slot in a shadow DOM shadow tree.
spellcheckIndicates whether the element is subject to spell checking.
styleProvides inline CSS styling for the element.
tabindexSpecifies the tab order of the element.
titleAdds extra information about the element, displayed as a tooltip when hovering over the element.
translateSpecifies whether the content of the element should be translated. Possible values are "yes" or "no".
HTML AttributesGlobal AttributesEvent Attributes
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