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Obsolete
This feature is obsolete. Although it may still work in some browsers, its use is discouraged since it could be removed at any time. Try to avoid using it.

Summary

The HTML Acronym Element (<acronym>) allows authors to clearly indicate a sequence of characters that compose an acronym or abbreviation for a word. This element has been removed in HTML5. Use <abbr> element.

Usage note: This element has been removed in HTML5 and shouldn't be used anymore. Instead web developers should use the <abbr> element.

Attributes

This element only has global attributes which is common to all elements.

DOM Interface

This element implements the HTMLElement interface.

Implementation note: Up to Gecko 1.9.2 inclusive, Firefox implements the HTMLSpanElement interface for this element.

Example

<p>The <acronym title="World Wide Web">WWW</acronym> is only a component of the Internet.</p>

Default styling

Though the purpose of this tag is purely for the convenience of the author, its default styling varies from one browser to another:

  • Some browsers, like Internet Explorer, do not style it differently than a <span> element.
  • Opera, Firefox,chrome and some others add a dotted underline to the content of the element.
  • A few browsers not only add a dotted underline, but also put it in small caps; to avoid this styling, adding something like font-variant: none in the CSS takes care of this case.

It is therefore strongly recommended that web authors do not totally rely on the default styling.

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
HTML 4.01 Specification
The definition of '<acronym>' in that specification.
Recommendation  

Browser compatibility

Feature Chrome Firefox (Gecko) Internet Explorer Opera Safari (WebKit)
Basic support (Yes) (Yes) (Yes) (Yes) (Yes)
Feature Android Firefox Mobile (Gecko) IE Phone Opera Mobile Safari Mobile
Basic support No support ? ? ? No support

See also

Document Tags and Contributors

 Last updated by: bboyle,