HTML <kbd> Tag
The HTML <kbd>
tag represents user input. For example, text that the user should enter into their computer/device.
Note that the <kbd>
tag is not to be confused with the <input>
tag (which creates a form control for the user to provide input). The <kbd>
tag is used when a document simply needs to display text that the user should enter into their keyboard (for any number of reasons). For example, the <kbd>
tag could be used in a list of instructions for connecting to a network from your computer.
Syntax
The <kbd>
tag is written as <kbd>
</kbd>
with the user input text enclosed between the start and end tags.
Like this:
Examples
Basic tag usage
Nesting <kbd>
& <samp>
Tags
You can use the <kbd>
tag along with the <samp>
tag to represent both user input and sample output.
For example, in a list of instructions, you could instruct the user to click a button. The action of clicking is user input and therefore requires the <kbd>
tag. The name of the button is sample output and therefore requires the <samp>
tag.
Actually, the HTML5 specifications states that in this case, it would require two <kbd>
elements (one nested inside the other), because it represents an actual key or other single unit of input.
However, the HTML5 specification says that such precision is optional, so the above example would be just as valid if you only used the <kbd>
tag. Like this:
Attributes
Attributes can be added to an HTML element to provide more information about how the element should appear or behave.
The <kbd>
element accepts the following attributes.
Attribute | Description |
---|---|
None |
Global Attributes
The following attributes are standard across all HTML elements. Therefore, you can use these attributes with the <kbd>
tag , as well as with all other HTML tags.
accesskey
autocapitalize
class
contenteditable
data-*
dir
draggable
hidden
id
inputmode
is
itemid
itemprop
itemref
itemscope
itemtype
lang
part
slot
spellcheck
style
tabindex
title
translate
For a full explanation of these attributes, see HTML 5 global attributes.
Event Handlers
Event handler content attributes enable you to invoke a script from within your HTML. The script is invoked when a certain "event" occurs. Each event handler content attribute deals with a different event.
onabort
onauxclick
onblur
oncancel
oncanplay
oncanplaythrough
onchange
onclick
onclose
oncontextmenu
oncopy
oncuechange
oncut
ondblclick
ondrag
ondragend
ondragenter
ondragexit
ondragleave
ondragover
ondragstart
ondrop
ondurationchange
onemptied
onended
onerror
onfocus
onformdata
oninput
oninvalid
onkeydown
onkeypress
onkeyup
onlanguagechange
onload
onloadeddata
onloadedmetadata
onloadstart
onmousedown
onmouseenter
onmouseleave
onmousemove
onmouseout
onmouseover
onmouseup
onpaste
onpause
onplay
onplaying
onprogress
onratechange
onreset
onresize
onscroll
onsecuritypolicyviolation
onseeked
onseeking
onselect
onslotchange
onstalled
onsubmit
onsuspend
ontimeupdate
ontoggle
onvolumechange
onwaiting
onwheel
Most event handler content attributes can be used on all HTML elements, but some event handlers have specific rules around when they can be used and which elements they are applicable to.
For more detail, see HTML event handler content attributes.