html

Summary

The html element (<html>) represents the root of an HTML document. The <html> tag is the container for all other HTML elements; except for the <!DOCTYPE> tag.

Overview Table

DOM Interface: HTMLHtmlElement

The html element is used to contain a complete HTML document.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
  <head>
    <meta charset="utf-8">
    <title>An Example Web Page</title>
  </head>
  <body>
    <h1>Hello World!</h1>
    <p>
      This is an example web page marked up using HTML.
    </p>
  </body>
</html>

Internationalization topics related to the html element:

Notes

Remarks

When you use the !DOCTYPE declaration to specify standards-compliant mode, this element represents the canvas—the entire surface onto which a document’s contents can be rendered. When you switch on standards-compliant mode, this element also becomes the positioning container for positioned elements that don’t have a positioned parent. When the !DOCTYPE declaration does not specify standards-compliant mode, the body object represents the entire surface onto which a document’s contents can be rendered.

Related specifications

HTML 5.1: W3C Working Draft
HTML 5: W3C Recommendation
HTML 4.01: W3C Recommendation

Attributions

Microsoft Developer Network: [Windows Internet Explorer API reference Article]