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HTML Computer Code Elements

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HTML contains several elements for defining user input and computer code.

Example
<code>
x = 5;
y = 6;
z = x + y;
</code>

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HTML <kbd> For Keyboard Input

The HTML <kbd> element is used to define keyboard input. The content inside is displayed in
the browser's default monospace font.

Example
Define some text as keyboard input in a document:

<p>Save the document by pressing <kbd>Ctrl + S</kbd></p>

Result:
Save the document by pressing
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HTML <samp> For Program Output

The HTML <samp> element is used to define sample output from a computer program. The
content inside is displayed in the browser's default monospace font.

Example
Define some text as sample output from a computer program in a document:

<p>Message from my computer:</p>

<p><samp>File not found.<br>Press F1 to continue</samp></p>

Result:

Message from my computer:

File not found.

Press F1 to continue

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HTML <code> For Computer Code

The HTML <code> element is used to define a piece of computer code. The content inside is
displayed in the browser's default monospace font.
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Define some text as computer code in a document:

<code>
x = 5;
y = 6;
z = x + y;
</code>

Result:

x = 5; y = 6; z = x + y;

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Preserve Line-Breaks
Notice that the <code> element does NOT preserve extra whitespace and line-breaks.

To preserve extra whitespace and line-breaks, you can put the <code> element inside a <pre>
element:

Example

<pre>
<code>
x = 5;
y = 6;
z = x + y;
</code>
</pre>

Result:

x = 5;
y = 6;
z = x + y;
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HTML <var> For Variables

The HTML <var> element is used to define a variable in programming or in a mathematical
expression. The content inside is typically displayed in italic.

Example
Define some text as variables in a document:

<p>The area of a triangle is: 1/2 x <var>b</var> x <var>h</var>, where <var>b</var>

is the base, and <var>h</var> is the vertical height.</p>

Result:

The area of a triangle is: 1/2 x b x h, where b is the base, and h is the vertical height.

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Chapter Summary
The <kbd> element defines keyboard input
The <samp> element defines sample output from a computer program
The <code> element defines a piece of computer code
The <var> element defines a variable in programming or in a mathematical expression
The <pre> element defines preformatted text

?
Exercise
Which one of the following is NOT an HTML element?

<code>
 <pre>
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<xamp>

Submit Answer »

HTML Computer Code Elements

Tag Description

<code> Defines programming code

<kbd> Defines keyboard input

<samp> Defines computer output

<var> Defines a variable

<pre> Defines preformatted text

For a complete list of all available HTML tags, visit our HTML Tag Reference.

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