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Tutorial Reference

XHTML Attributes

Learn about the three types of XHTML attributes (core, language, and Microsoft proprietary) including their values, usage rules, and browser-specific behaviors.

There are some XHTML attributes which are standard and associated to all XHTML tags. The XHTML attributes can be divided in 3 types:

  • Core Attributes
  • Language Attributes
  • Microsoft Proprietary Attributes

Core Attributes

Not valid in base, head, html, meta, param, script, style, and title elements.

Attribute Value Description
class class_rule or style_rule The class of the element.
Id id_name A unique id for the element.
style style_definition An inline style definition.
Title tooltip_text A text to display in a mouse tip.

Language Attributes

The lang attribute specifies the language which is used for the enclosed content. It uses the ISO standard language abbreviations like fr for French, en for English, and so on.

The language attribute is not valid in base, br, frame, frameset, hr, iframe, param, and script elements.

Attribute Value Description
dir ltr | rtl Sets the text direction.
lang language_code Sets the language code.

Microsoft Proprietary Attributes

Microsoft introduced a number of new proprietary attributes with the Internet Explorer 4 and higher versions.

accesskey character Sets a keyboard shortcut to access an element.
language string This attribute specifies the scripting language to be used with an associated script bound to the element, typically through an event handler attribute. Possible values might include JavaScript, jScript, VBS, and VBScript.
tabindex number Sets the tab order of an element.
contenteditable boolean Allows users to edit content rendered in Internet Explorer 5.5 or greater. Possible values are true or false.
disabled boolean Elements with the disabled attribute set may appear faded and will not respond to user input. Possible values are true or false.
hidefocus on or off This proprietary attribute, introduced with Internet Explorer 5.5, hides focus on an element's content. Focus must be applied to the element using the tabindex attribute.
unselectable on or off Used to prevent content displayed in Internet Explorer 5.5 from being selected.
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