Ins and del can show how a document changed. A removed item goes in del; its replacement goes in ins.
What You Need to Know
Use clear context so readers understand the revision even without colors or strike-through styling. Attributes can record timestamps but do not create change tracking automatically.
The goal is not to collect as many tags as possible. Pick the element that best describes what the content really is.
Example: See It in Action
Try this markup in a fresh practice file. The next section explains the parts worth paying attention to.
This is a short HTML fragment. To try it as a webpage, put it inside the body element of a complete HTML document.
<p>Schedule changed: <del>Monday</del> <ins>Tuesday</ins>.</p>
<p>The replaced date is still visible for comparison.</p>
<p>Markup identifies a document edit.</p>Let’s Understand the Example
- A p groups a paragraph of related text. Start another paragraph for a new thought.
- Del marks content removed from a document.
- Ins marks content added to a document.
Look for the text “Schedule changed:” in the page. If the visible result surprises you, inspect the rendered elements to see what the browser actually built.
What Should You See?
The page should include “Schedule changed:”. If it looks different from what you expected, open developer tools and compare the source with the elements the browser created.
Try removing one piece of markup in a scratch copy, refresh the page, and compare the behavior. This is often the fastest way to understand what that piece contributes.
Try It Yourself
- Mark a changed event time and explain the old and new value.
- Save your changes, open or refresh the page, and compare the result with the original example.
- Tell a friend what your change did. If you are not sure, undo it, refresh the page, and compare.
Common Beginner Mistakes
- Using s for a documented edit that is better represented by del.
- Avoid picking tags just for their default bold, italic or spaced appearance. Use CSS for presentation.
Key Takeaways
- Ins and del can show how a document changed.
- A p groups a paragraph of related text. Start another paragraph for a new thought.
- Use clear context so readers understand the revision even without colors or strike-through styling. Attributes can record timestamps but do not create change tracking automatically.