HTML / HTML Tags

HTML <Title> Tag

Dec 12, 2022
2 min read
HTML title Tag

Definition

A title tag is an HTML element that provides the “title” of a web page. The HTML title element may be used for the following:

  • As the title in the browser toolbar.
  • As the title for bookmarks \ favorites.
  • As the clickable headline in the Search Engine Results.
  • As an indicator to Search Engines of the subject matter of the web page.

Example

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>HTML Title Element goes here.</title>
</head>
<body>
    <h1>Displayed Page Title</h1>
    <p>The main content of your page goes here.</p>
</body>
</html>

Usage

  • An opening and closing tag is required.
  • It must be used only in the page’s <head> with no other <title> elements.
  • It can only contain text.
  • Any contained tags are ignored.
  • If you fail to include a <title> element, the web page will fail HTML validation.

Attributes

The <title> element only supports the Global Attributes.

Best Practices

You can find a detailed guide to best practices when using Title Tags here. However, a couple of best practice examples are included below:

Good Examples

A good title element will be short, concise, and portray the subject matter of the page:

<title>Title Tag guide - Usage and Best Practices</title>

or

<title>How to cook the perfect steak</title>

Bad Examples

A bad title element may be too short and ambigious:

<title>Read this guide</title>

Or too long:

<title>
This is the best guide to creating elements
on your web page, with a specific mention
to things like title tags. If you are lucky
you will pick up lots of detail.
</title>

SEO

Using a keyword in the Title Tag is a Google ranking factor.

Here is what Google’s John Mueller had to say:

Titles are important! They are important for SEO. They are used as a ranking factor. Of course, they are definitely used as a ranking factor, but it is not something where I’d say the time you spend on tweaking the title is really the best use of your time.

Specification

Browser Support

Desktop

ChromeEdgeFirefoxIEOperaSafari
YesYesYesYesYesYes

Mobile

Android WebviewChrome AndroidEdgeFirefox MobileIE MobileOpera MobileSafari Mobile
YesYesYesYesYesYesYes