<tt>
The <tt> element (teletype text) was used to render text in a monospace (fixed-width) font, mimicking the appearance of old teletype machines or typewriters. It was a purely presentational element with no semantic meaning.
This page was last updated on 2025-11-17
Deprecation Warning
This element is obsolete and should not be used. The <tt> element is not supported in HTML5. Use semantic elements that describe the meaning of the monospace text, or CSS for purely presentational purposes.
The <tt> element was problematic because it described only how text should look (monospace font) without conveying why. HTML5 provides semantic elements that explain the purpose of monospace text: <code> for code, <kbd> for keyboard input, <samp> for sample output, and <var> for variables.
Syntax
<tt>monospace text</tt>
The element required both opening and closing tags.
Modern Alternatives
Choose the appropriate semantic element based on the meaning of your monospace text:
For Computer Code: Use <code>
<p>Use the <code>console.log()</code> function for debugging.</p>
For Keyboard Input: Use <kbd>
<p>Press <kbd>Ctrl</kbd>+<kbd>C</kbd> to copy.</p>
For Program Output: Use <samp>
<p>The program returned: <samp>Error 404: File not found</samp></p>
For Variables: Use <var>
<p>Set the value of <var>x</var> to 10.</p>
For Purely Visual Monospace: Use CSS
<!-- HTML -->
<span class="mono">monospace text</span>
<!-- CSS -->
.mono {
font-family: monospace;
}
Migration Example
<!-- Old way (obsolete) -->
<p>Type <tt>npm install</tt> to install dependencies.</p>
<!-- New way (semantic) -->
<p>Type <kbd>npm install</kbd> to install dependencies.</p>
<!-- Or if showing code -->
<p>The command <code>npm install</code> installs dependencies.</p>
When to Avoid
Always avoid using <tt>. There is no valid use case for this element:
- It is obsolete in HTML5 and not supported
- It has no semantic meaning
- It fails validation for HTML5 documents
- Semantic alternatives exist for all common use cases
- CSS provides precise control when no semantic meaning is intended
Always consider what the monospace text represents and choose the appropriate semantic element.
