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HTML data Tag

Learn how to use the HTML <data> tag to associate a machine-readable translation or value with human-readable content.

Introduction to the HTML data Tag

The HTML <data> tag is used to link a given piece of content with a machine-readable translation or value. If the content is time- or date-related, the <time> element should be used instead. This element provides a way to make content understandable to both humans (through its visible content) and machines (through its value attribute).

Basic Syntax

html
<ul>
  <li><data value="21053">Pentium IV 3.2GHz</data></li>
  <li><data value="21054">Atom N270 1.6GHz</data></li>
  <li><data value="21055">Core i7 3.4GHz Extreme</data></li>
</ul>

<p>The product <data value="UPC:012345678905">SuperWidget Model X</data> is currently on sale.</p>
- The content inside the <data> tags is what the user sees (e.g., "Pentium IV 3.2GHz"). - The value attribute contains the machine-readable equivalent (e.g., "21053" which could be a product ID).

Key Attributes

- value: This is the primary attribute of the <data> tag. It specifies the machine-readable translation of the content of the element.

Purpose and Use Cases

The <data> tag is useful in scenarios where you want to present information to users in a human-friendly way, but also provide a standardized, machine-readable version for scripts, search engines, or other data processing applications. Examples include: - Product Names and IDs: Displaying a product name while linking it to a specific product ID or SKU. `html

We have the Awesome Gadget Pro in stock.

` - User-Friendly Labels with Standardized Values: Representing options that have a user-friendly display but need a specific value for processing. `html

Color: Bright Red

` - Linking to Internal Identifiers: Any content that has a more structured or coded representation in a backend system.

<data> vs. <time>

- Use <data> for generic data that has a machine-readable equivalent. - Use <time> specifically for dates, times, or durations. The <time> element has a datetime attribute that is designed for machine-readable date/time formats. `html

The event is on .

`

<data> vs. Microdata/RDFa/JSON-LD

While <data> provides a simple way to attach a machine-readable value, more complex scenarios for structured data on the web often use richer systems like: - Microdata: Uses attributes like itemscope, itemtype, and itemprop to create structured data within HTML. - RDFa (Resource Description Framework in Attributes): Another way to embed structured data. - JSON-LD (JavaScript Object Notation for Linked Data): Often embedded in a <script> tag, providing structured data in JSON format. These technologies (especially JSON-LD as favored by Google) are more comprehensive for SEO and detailed data interchange. The <data> tag is simpler and can be useful for cases where you just need to associate a single piece of machine-readable data with some content, perhaps for client-side scripting or very specific internal uses.

Styling

The <data> tag itself does not apply any special styling by default. It behaves like a <span> element (inline content). Any styling would be applied via CSS based on classes, IDs, or the element selector.

Conclusion

The HTML <data> tag offers a straightforward method to embed machine-readable values alongside human-readable content. While not as extensive as full structured data vocabularies, it serves a valuable purpose for specific use cases where a simple value association is needed. Remember to use <time> for date and time related information.
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