HTML Tag: Styling Text with Italics and Semantics

Learn how to use the HTML `` tag to apply italic styling to text while improving accessibility and SEO. This guide explains the semantic meaning of `` and when to use it versus other similar tags like `` and ``. Discover best practices for using `` and how to customize its styling with CSS.

Using the HTML `` Element to Style Text

Understanding the `` Element

The HTML `<i>` (italic) element is an inline container used to style text with italics. While italics can be applied using CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), the `<i>` tag adds semantic meaning to the text, making it more accessible and improving SEO (search engine optimization). It's typically used to set off text that has a different tone or style from the surrounding text, such as technical terms, foreign words, or thoughts. It’s important to use the most appropriate semantic tag; `<i>` should be used when there isn’t a more specific tag available (e.g., `<em>` for emphasis, `<strong>` for importance, `<cite>` for titles, etc.).

Using the `` Element

To apply italic styling, place the text within the opening and closing `<i>` tags. For example:

Example: Basic Italics

<p>The <i>RMS Titanic</i> sank in 1912.</p>

Browser Support for ``

The `<i>` element is supported by all major modern browsers.

Browser Support
Chrome Yes
Edge Yes
Firefox Yes
Opera Yes
Safari Yes

Default Styling and CSS Customization

Most browsers render the `<i>` element using italic styling by default. However, you can customize the styling using CSS. For example:

Example: Custom CSS for `<i>`

i {
  font-style: italic;
  font-weight: bold;
  color: green;
}