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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>
Try it Yourself »
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
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Define some text as keyboard input in a document:
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<p>Save the document by pressing <kbd>Ctrl + S</kbd></p>
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Result:
Save the document by pressing Ctrl + S
Try it Yourself »
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
Try it Yourself »
HTML <code> For Computer Code
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The HTML <code> element is used to define a piece of computer code. The content
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inside is displayed in the browser's default monospace font.
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Example
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;
Try it Yourself »
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>
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Result:
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x = 5;
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y = 6;
z = x + y;
Try it Yourself »
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.
Try it Yourself »
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
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The <pre> element defines preformatted text
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?
Exercise
Which one of the following is NOT an HTML element?
<code>
<pre>
<kbd>
<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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