You might see <i> 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
Marks text in an alternate voice or conventional distinction, such as a technical term or species name, without expressing emphasis.
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>We studied <i>Homo sapiens</i> in science class.</p>What Each Part Does
- The i element marks an alternate voice or special term.
- A paragraph keeps one idea together as readable text.
The scientific name is distinguished, commonly in italics.
Try It Yourself
Try replacing the example content with your own while keeping the valid HTML structure.
Common Beginner Mistakes
- Using i instead of em when the sentence needs stress emphasis.
- 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
- Marks text in an alternate voice or conventional distinction, such as a technical term or species name, without expressing emphasis.
- The scientific name is distinguished, commonly in italics.
- Test the markup in a browser, and check accessibility and real-world behavior where relevant.