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<small> - The Small Text Element
The <small> Element
Section titled “The <small> Element”The small text element represents side comments and small print, such as copyright notices, legal restrictions, or disclaimers. It’s typically rendered in a smaller font size.
Quick Example
Section titled “Quick Example” Result
Syntax
Section titled “Syntax”<small>fine print or side comment</small>The <small> element represents content that is less important or supplementary to the main content.
Common Use Cases
Section titled “Common Use Cases”Copyright Notices
Section titled “Copyright Notices” Result
Legal Disclaimers
Section titled “Legal Disclaimers” Result
Fine Print
Section titled “Fine Print” Result
Licensing Information
Section titled “Licensing Information” Result
Supplementary Information
Section titled “Supplementary Information” Result
Product Details
Section titled “Product Details” Result
Real-World Examples
Section titled “Real-World Examples”Pricing Table
Section titled “Pricing Table” Result
Article Metadata
Section titled “Article Metadata” Result
Form Labels
Section titled “Form Labels” Result
Footer Information
Section titled “Footer Information” Result
When NOT to Use <small>
Section titled “When NOT to Use <small>”Don’t Use Just for Styling
Section titled “Don’t Use Just for Styling”<!-- Don't use <small> just to make text smaller --><p><small>This is my main content</small></p><!-- Use CSS for styling --><p class="small-text">This is my main content</p>Don’t Use for Subheadings
Section titled “Don’t Use for Subheadings”<h1>Main Title <small>Subtitle</small></h1><h1>Main Title</h1><p class="subtitle">Subtitle</p>Don’t Use for Extended Text
Section titled “Don’t Use for Extended Text”<small> This is a long paragraph of important content that should not be in a small element...</small><p class="legal-text"> This is a long paragraph of important content...</p>Styling
Section titled “Styling”Customize small text appearance:
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Nested Small Elements
Section titled “Nested Small Elements”You can nest <small> for even smaller text:
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With Other Elements
Section titled “With Other Elements”In Blockquotes
Section titled “In Blockquotes” Result
In Lists
Section titled “In Lists” Result
With Time Element
Section titled “With Time Element” Result
Accessibility
Section titled “Accessibility”Screen Reader Behavior
Section titled “Screen Reader Behavior”Screen readers read <small> content normally. The smaller size is visual only and doesn’t affect semantic importance.
Ensure Readability
Section titled “Ensure Readability”Don’t make text so small it becomes hard to read:
/* Avoid */small { font-size: 0.5em; /* Too small! */}
/* Better */small { font-size: 0.875em; /* Readable */}Important Information
Section titled “Important Information”If information is important, don’t hide it in small print:
<small>Important safety warning: ...</small><p><strong>Important safety warning:</strong> ...</p>Legal and Compliance
Section titled “Legal and Compliance”Terms and Conditions
Section titled “Terms and Conditions” Result
GDPR Compliance
Section titled “GDPR Compliance” Result
Browser Support
Section titled “Browser Support”| Browser | Version | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chrome | 1+ | Full support |
| Firefox | 1+ | Full support |
| Safari | 1+ | Full support |
| Edge | 12+ | Full support |
| IE | 3+ | Full support |
The <small> element has been supported since the earliest browsers.
Related Elements
Section titled “Related Elements”
For superscript text. Learn more →