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HTML <html> manifest Attribute

< HTML <html> tag

Example

A HTML document with a cache manifest (for offline browsing):

<!DOCTYPE HTML>
<html manifest="demo.appcache">
<head>
<title>Title of the document</title>
</head>

<body>
The content of the document......
</body>

</html>
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Definition and Usage

The manifest attribute specifies the location of the document's cache manifest.

HTML5 introduces application cache, which means that a web application is cached, and accessible without an internet connection.

Application cache gives an application three advantages:

  1. Offline browsing - users can use the application when they're offline
  2. Speed - cached resources load faster
  3. Reduced server load - the browser will only download updated/changed resources from the server

The manifest attribute should be included on every page of your web application that you want cached.

The manifest file is a simple text file that lists the resources the browser should cache for offline access.

To learn more about how to create the manifest file, please read our HTML5 Application Cache chapter.


Browser Support

The numbers in the table specify the first browser version that fully supports the attribute.

Attribute
manifest 4.0 10.0 3.5 4.0 10.6

Differences Between HTML 4.01 and HTML5

The manifest attribute is new in HTML5.


Syntax

<html manifest="URL">

Attribute Values

Value Description
URL The address of the document's cache manifest.

Possible values:

  • An absolute URL - points to another web site (like href="http://www.example.com/demo.appcache")
  • A relative URL - points to a file within a web site (like href="demo.appcache")

< HTML <html> tag