Table of contents

HTML <em> Tag

What is HTML <em> Tag?

The HTML em tag is used to emphasize text within a webpage. The word “em” stands for emphasis. When you use this tag, the enclosed text is typically displayed in italic by default in browsers.

This tag is important because it helps draw attention to specific words or phrases. It also improves accessibility since screen readers usually stress the emphasized words while reading aloud. The HTML em tag is used within the body of an HTML document and is often applied to highlight key terms or emotions in a sentence.

Syntax of the HTML <em> Tag

plaintext
<em>Emphasized text goes here</em>

The HTML em tag starts with <em> and ends with </em>. The text placed between these tags will appear emphasized, usually in italic style.

Examples of HTML <em> Tag

Example 1: Basic HTML em Tag

plaintext
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <title>HTML em Tag Example - Scholar247</title>
  </head>
<body>

  <p>This is a <em>simple</em> example of the HTML em tag.</p>

</body>
</html>

In this example, the word “simple” will appear in italic form in the browser. The em tag highlights it for emphasis and helps readers understand that this word carries importance.

Example 2: SEO Optimized HTML em Tag

plaintext
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <title>Learn HTML em Tag | Scholar247</title>
</head>
<body>

  <p>The HTML <em>em tag</em> helps improve <em>SEO readability</em> by emphasizing keywords naturally within the content.</p>

</body>
</html>

This example shows how to use the HTML em tag effectively for SEO. The emphasized words “em tag” and “SEO readability” make it clear to both users and search engines which parts of the text are important, improving keyword relevance.

Attributes of the HTML <em> Tag

The HTML em tag does not support any specific attributes.
However, you can apply global attributes such as:

• class – To apply CSS styles.
• id – To uniquely identify the element.
• style – To add inline CSS properties.
• title – To provide additional information on hover.

These global attributes can be used to customize how the emphasized text appears on your webpage.

Best Practices for HTML <em> Tag

• Use the em tag only when you need to emphasize meaning, not just for styling.
• Avoid overusing the em tag; too much emphasis reduces impact.
• Combine with strong tag when you need to show both importance and emphasis.
• Always close the tag properly to maintain valid HTML structure.
• Use CSS to control how emphasized text should look for better design consistency.

FAQs About the HTML <em> Tag

What is the main purpose of the HTML em tag?

The HTML em tag is used to emphasize specific text, making it stand out and giving it more meaning or emotional weight.

Does the HTML em tag affect SEO?

Yes, it can. Search engines consider emphasized text as more meaningful, which can improve keyword visibility and user understanding.

What is the difference between em and i tags?

The em tag emphasizes meaning (semantic emphasis), while the i tag only italicizes text visually without adding semantic importance.

Can I use multiple em tags in one sentence?

Yes, you can use multiple em tags to emphasize different words or phrases as needed in the same sentence.

Where should the HTML em tag be placed?

The HTML em tag should always be used within the body section of your webpage, inside paragraphs or other text-containing elements.

HTML

Related Articles