Redacción Tokio | 08/11/2022
Web development represents an ecosystem in constant evolution and transformation. That means, not only components in programming languages need to be consistently updated, but also do web browsers. As such, there’s a series of deprecated HTML tags in HTML5 that it’s advisable not to use.
For these and other reasons, web design professionals must ensure they take part in their constant education efforts. Updating their knowledge and being up to date when it comes to the latest trends in front-end development is essential for every person who wants to be part of this field.
Today, we’re going to explore the deprecated HTML tabs in HTML5 and what the current alternatives for them are. We’ll also go through a bit of this programming language’s history and what the best alternatives are if you wish to get in-depth knowledge about the world of web development.
HTML5: a language in constant evolution
HTML is the standard that defines websites since the very beginning of the Internet. In fact, the history of this programming system goes back a long time, with its ensuing evolution being especially significant.
However, the basis of HTML hasn’t changed much throughout all these years. This language works as a system where tags and attributes organize a website. In other words, through HTML we’re able to determine what we want the website to show by tagging it appropriately.
As such, HTML represents every website’s skeleton, telling the web browsers we use where everything is. In order to provide a format and a visual style to that skeleton, CSS is used.
As HTML is a language in constant evolution, the years and transformations that have led to HTML have meant there are certain attributes and tags that have become obsolete. Let’s go through the deprecated HTML tabs in HTML5 and the recommendations for substituting them.
What are the deprecated HTML tags in HTML 5?
As we were saying, time and the evolution of HTML5 mean there are several tags that have become obsolete. These elements can still be employed, but their use is not recommended. This is because, although web browsers still support them, they might not do so soon, so that websites using obsolete tags would not be correctly visualized any more.
Let’s now see in a simplified version what the deprecated HTML tags in HTML5 are and how they might be substituted. Some of these outdated elements can now be implemented directly from CSS.
Obsolete tag | What does it do? | What is the alternative? |
applet | Related to Java applets | embed, object |
acronym | Insert acronyms | acronym |
bgsound | Group headings | header, div |
isindex | Creates a field for searches | imput |
listing, xmp> | Shows fragments of source code | pre, code |
basefont | Defines the typography shown on the website by default | Implemented from CSS |
big | Indicates the font size | Introduced from CSS |
center | Centered the text | Implemented from CSS |
font | Defines a particular typography for a website paragraph | Introduced from CSS |
menu | Creates list menus | ul |
A proficient web developer is up to date regarding all changes that are experimented by this language. In order to do so, constant training is essential.
What about attributes? Obsolete attributes in HTML5
Attributes in HTML5 are elements that are added to tags and incorporate additional information at the beginning of it. They can thus modify or aggregate certain specific characteristics. For instance, in order to determine the route in which an image is found, we may add the src attribute within the tag.
Just like with deprecated HTML tags in HTML5, there are certain attributes that have become outdated or that are directly implemented from CSS. Let’s see which ones they are and how to substitute them.
In the case of obsolete HTML attributes, all the ones cited below except for name and language are now part of their respective tags; the rest of the obsolete attributes are directly implemented from the CSS style sheet.
Obsolete attribute | What tag is it in? | What’s it for |
name | a, embed, img, option | Creates an anchor with which something is identified within the website |
language | script | Indicates the type of language that’s being used |
link | body | Manages link colors |
alink | body | An alternative to manage link colors |
vlink | body | The third option to indicate the color of a link in HTML |
bgcolor | body | Establishes a background color for the website |
align, valign | table | A vertical or horizontal aligning within a HTML table |
hspace, vspace | table, iframe | Indicates the spaces within HTML tables |
cellpadding | table | The space between cells within a HTML table |
cellspacing | table | An alternative of the one above |
nowrap | td, th | Establishes a fixed size for each cell within an HTML table |
Get specialized training as a Front-End developer!
We’ve gone through the main attributes as well as the deprecated HTML tags in HTML5, a first step in updating or improving your knowledge in HTML, the skeleton of any website. Now it’s your time to take the next step, the moment when you become adequately ready to work as a Front-End developer.
In order to do so, you not only need to learn HTML, but you must also be proficient in JavaScript and CSS. Are you interested in it? At Tokyo School we offer a Front-End programming course: HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript. You’ll become a coding samurai!
Want to learn more about this course or our school? Feel free to ask! Fill in the form below and take the next step. Become a Tokyer! We’re waiting for you!