HTML <I> Tag

Definition

The <i> tag is used to define some text in an alternative voice or mood without emphasizing it. The text usually displays in italic.

Example

<p><i>I wonder whether this will be italic</i> thought The Webmaster.</p>

Usage

• An opening and closing tag are required.
• Examples of usage include:
  • Taxonomic designation
  • Technical terms
  • Idiomatic phrases in other languages. In these cases it is recommended to add the lang attribute to denote the language. For example:

    <p>Del Boy used to say <i lang="Fr">je suis un pois<i> 
    every time he met a French person</p>

  • Transliteration
  • A thought
  • A ship name in Western texts.

Attributes

The <i> element only supports the Global Attributes.

Best Practices

• You should consider whether other elements might be more appropriate. For example, you can use the <em> tag to stress emphasis while still making the text italic. Alternatively, for definitions you could use the <dfn> tag, or to mark as important you can use the <strong> tag.
• The <i> element is an inline element. You should use it to mark up parts of a text rather than entire blocks. If you wish to italicize a leading paragraph, for example, then you should use CSS.

Specification

• HTML Living Standard Specification
• HTML5 Specification

Browser Support

Desktop

Mobile