HTML Computer Code Elements

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Computer Code Element

<code>
var x = 5;
var y = 6;
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = x + y;
</code>

HTML Computer Code Formatting

HTML normally uses variable letter size and spacing.

This is not wanted when displaying examples of computer code.

The <kbd>, <samp>, and <code> elements all support fixed letter size and spacing.

HTML <kbd> For Keyboard Input

The HTML <kbd> element defines keyboard input:

Example

Result:

File | Open...

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HTML <samp> For Computer Output

The HTML <samp> element defines sample output from a computer program:

Example

<samp>
demo.example.com login: Apr 12 09:10:17
Linux 2.6.10-grsec+gg3+e+fhs6b+nfs+gr0501+++p3+c4a+gr2b-reslog-v6.189
</samp>

Result:

demo.example.com login: Apr 12 09:10:17 Linux 2.6.10-grsec+gg3+e+fhs6b+nfs+gr0501+++p3+c4a+gr2b-reslog-v6.189

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HTML <code> For Computer Code

The HTML <code> element defines a piece of programming code:

Example

<code>
var x = 5;
var y = 6;
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = x + y;
</code>

Result:


var x = 5;
var y = 6;
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = x + y;

Try it Yourself »

Notice that the <code> element does not preserve extra whitespace and line-breaks.

To fix this, you can put the <code> element inside a <pre> element:

Example

<pre>
<code>
var x = 5;
var y = 6;
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = x + y;
</code>
</pre>

Result:

var x = 5;
var y = 6;
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = x + y;

Try it Yourself »

HTML <var> For Variables

The HTML <var> element defines a variable.

The variable could be a variable in a mathematical expression or a variable in programming context:

Example

Einstein wrote: <var>E</var> = <var>m</var><var>c</var><sup>2</sup>.

Result:

Einstein wrote: E = mc².

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Test Yourself with Exercises!

Exercise 1 » Exercise 2 » Exercise 3 »