You might see <audio> Element reference while reading someone else’s HTML, or need it while building a page of your own. Instead of memorizing a definition, look at a working example and see when the element makes sense.
The Idea in Plain English
Embeds audio. controls supplies the browser player; sources offer alternative formats and text gives fallback guidance.
For a reference page, pay attention to where the element is allowed, whether it needs a closing tag, and what other elements it can contain.
A Working Example
Read the sample once before copying it. Notice the element names and attribute values, then compare them with the explanation below.
<audio controls preload="metadata">
<source src="lesson.ogg" type="audio/ogg">
<source src="lesson.mp3" type="audio/mpeg">
Your browser cannot play the audio.
</audio>What Each Part Does
- The audio element provides an audio player when a compatible source exists.
- A source offers an alternative file for a media element or picture.
- src points to the asset the browser should load.
- type chooses the relevant kind of script, input, media or embedded object.
A native audio player appears if a supported source loads.
Try It Yourself
Try replacing the example content with your own while keeping the valid HTML structure.
Common Beginner Mistakes
- Autoplaying unexpected sound or forgetting a transcript for spoken content.
- Changing several parts of the example at once, making it difficult to see which part caused a different result.
- Choosing a tag only because its default appearance looks right, without checking whether it describes the content correctly.
Key Takeaways
- Embeds audio. controls supplies the browser player; sources offer alternative formats and text gives fallback guidance.
- A native audio player appears if a supported source loads.
- Test the markup in a browser, and check accessibility and real-world behavior where relevant.