What is the purpose of the HTML tag?

Books
How To

What is the purpose of the HTML <meta> tag?

To provide metadata about the HTML document

To define the main content of the document

To create a hyperlink

To display images

Understanding the Purpose of HTML <meta> Tag

The HTML <meta> tag is used to provide metadata about an HTML document. Metadata is data about data - it provides information about the content held within the document. The metadata defined by <meta> tags will not be displayed on the page, but is machine parsable and helps specify the document's properties.

The <meta> tag is typically used within the <head> section of an HTML page. Metadata can include elements such as the character set, page description, keywords, author of the document, and viewport settings. Here's a simple example of how to use a <meta> tag to specify the character set:

<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
</head>

This HTML snippet specifies that the character set used in the document is UTF-8, which includes most characters from all known human languages. This is useful for search engines and browsing software to correctly display the content.

Another frequent use of <meta> tag is defining description of the document, which search engines often display in search results:

<head>
  <meta name="description" content="This is an example of a web page using the meta tag.">
</head>

It's important to note that using pertinent and concise descriptions can greatly improve the SEO (Search Engine Optimization) of a page, making it more likely to appear in relevant web searches.

In the context of responsive web design, <meta> tags can also be used to control the viewport:

<head>
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
</head>

The above example makes the web page look good on all devices (desktops, tablets, and phones), an important aspect considering the increasing use of mobile devices for internet browsing.

While multiple <meta> tags can be included, it's also crucial not to overuse them. For instance, stuffing keywords into your metadata won't improve your SEO, and may even harm it. A rule of thumb is to keep metadata relevant and straightforward, enhancing the actual content of the web page.

Understanding the Purpose of HTML <meta> Tag

Related Questions