Language References

---

Specifies information about the document for use by Web browsers and search indexing engines.

HTML 2, 3.2, 4, 4.01, 5

HTML Syntax

<meta
   content = description
   http-equiv = response
   name = text
   title = text
   url = url
>

The META element is used to convey information about the document important to Web browsers and search indexing engines. The element has no effect on the appearance of the Web page.

META information is usually first classified by its name, which specifies what kind of information the META element supplies, followed by the META content itself. For example, a META element can be used to provide a brief description of the page, or list the important concepts or keywords in the page.

<meta name="description"
   content="Reference listing of HTML tags.">
<meta name="keywords"
   content="HTML, tags, reference, attributes">

The META http-equiv attribute creates an HTTP response header that can convey information to the browser about what to do with the file.

In the following example, the META element is used to tell the browser how often to refresh the page, which is every 5 seconds. This is useful for pages that display information that need to update automatically at a specified interval, like stock prices or late-breaking news.

<meta http-equiv="Refresh" content="5">

The META element does not require en end tag.

This element can only be used within the HEAD element.

META Members