You might see <data> 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
Pairs a visible label with a machine-readable value, such as a product ID, without making it a date.
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.
<p>Item: <data value="SKU-204">Blue notebook</data></p>What Each Part Does
- The data element adds a machine-readable value to a human-readable label.
- A paragraph keeps one idea together as readable text.
- value specifies a form value or a machine-readable value.
Readers see Blue notebook while software can use the ID value.
Try It Yourself
Try replacing the example content with your own while keeping the valid HTML structure.
Common Beginner Mistakes
- Using data for dates instead of time when a datetime value is needed.
- 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
- Pairs a visible label with a machine-readable value, such as a product ID, without making it a date.
- Readers see Blue notebook while software can use the ID value.
- Test the markup in a browser, and check accessibility and real-world behavior where relevant.