7 useful HTML attributes you may not know

HTML is the cornerstone of web development. Yet, many aspiring programmers merely skim the surface and move on to CSS, JS, etc, missing its entire potential.

This is a list of HTML attributes that many beginners don't know, but that can be helpful.

Please, let me know in the comments if you would like to add any other attribute to the list and I'll check it out ;)

 

1) Multiple

 
The multiple attribute allows the user to enter multiple values on an <input>. It is a boolean attribute valid for file or email input types and the <select> element.

For an email input, if and only if the multiple attribute is specified, the value can be a list of comma-separated email addresses. Any whitespace is removed from each address in the list.

For a file input, the user can select multiple files in the as usual (holding down Shift or Crtl).

<input type="file" multiple>

 

2) Accept

 
The <input> element has the accept attribute that allows you to specify the types of files the user can upload.

You need to pass it a string containing a comma-separated list of unique file type specifiers.

You can also use it to specify only audio, image, or video format.

<input type="file" accept=".png, .jpg">

 

3) Contenteditable

 
contenteditable is a global attribute (common to all HTML elements) that makes the HTML content editable by the user or not. However, be careful with changes only made to visible content vs the DOM content.

<div contenteditable="true">I'm a cool editable div ;)</div>

 

4) Spellcheck

 
The spellcheck is another global attribute that you can use to check spelling and grammar on HTML elements such as input fields and other editable elements.

Note: Typically non-editable elements are not checked for spelling errors, even if the spellcheck attribute is set to true and the browser supports spellchecking.

<p contenteditable="true" spellcheck="true">
Thanks furr checkinng my speling :)</p>

 

5) Translate

 
translate tells the browser whether the content should be translated or not.

For instance, you can use it to prevent Google Translate from automatically trying to translate your company's or brand's name.

<footer><p translate="no">LearnPine</p></footer>

 

6) Poster

 
Use the poster attribute to specify an image to be shown while the video is downloading, or until the user hits the play button.

If the image isn't specified, nothing is displayed until the first frame is available, then the first frame is shown as the poster frame.

<video controls 
src="https://bit.ly/3nWh78w"
poster="posterImage.png">
</video>

 

7) Download

 
Use the download attribute combined with an <a> element to instruct browsers to download a URL instead of navigating to it, so the user will be prompted to save it as a local file.

You can also specify the file name.

<a href="index.html" download="fileName">Download me :)</a>

 
 

About me, let's connect! 👋👩‍💻

 
I'm an avid learner and I love sharing what I know. I teach coding live for free 👉 here and I share coding tips on my Twitter account . If you want more tips, you can follow me 😁
 
 

Comments

[Rohan Salunke]

Thanks for writing!
Extending #3: You could also use document.designMode = "on" to make all content editable which really helps while prototyping your html page.

[Emmanuel Salomon]

I've created a bookmark to toggle designMode :
javascript:(function(){document.designMode=document.designMode==="on"?"off":"on"})();
I realy often use it!

[raghad-farhud]

can i ask what is designMode ?

[gaizkamg]

letmegooglethat.com/?q=designMode

[Joseph Mania]

Thanks lol

[Mariana Simon]

Thanks for the tip Rohan!

[Anton T]

Wow! Had no idea, cool tip!

[HunterRajz]

arre bro mujhe kuch baat karne ka hain ..kidhar baat kare???

[Rohan Salunke]

???

[HunterRajz]

hey bro can we talk ???

[JP Beaufort]

Over the 2 to 3 years of coding and programming, I completely forgot the power HTML gave me alone. Today it's easy to add css and js to a website, but before I even knew of frameworks and responsive design, HTML helped me get 89% for my Practical Assignments in our school's computer class. So go out and learn more of HTML, it's really not that boring.

[Mariana Simon]

True. You can do a lot with HTMl only.

[Felix H.]

Yes, can do a lot except hacking NASA.
Just kidding 😁

[Joseph Mania]

without datacommunication and Networking how can ur mid associate with NASA🤣🤣🤣just kidding

[Felix H.]

Hey, we have Inspector. It's enough 😎
LOL 😂

[MiguelMJ]

This was useful!

[Mariana Simon]

Glad you liked it, Miguel!

[Oscar Rodriguez]

Thanks for sharing!

In case you want to use it within your application, check if it's supported by your target browsers by going into caniuse.com/ and just typing the attribute. For example, Accept is not supported by most browsers.

[Mariana Simon]

Thanks Oscar! Nice tip, always good to check caniuse. Accept is supported by the major browsers (ie, edge, chrome, firefox, safari) :)

[shafqatkp]

Thanks for this helpful tips

[Mariana Simon]

My pleasure :)

[Renan "Firehawk" Lazarotto]

I've been working with web development for a solid 5 years and I've never heard of some of those. 3, 5 and 7 would've saved me quite some time. Thanks a lot for this!

[Mariana Simon]

Nice to hear it helps, Renan ;)

[kamal ganwani]

great one

[Mariana Simon]

Thanks, Kamal! Appreciate the feedback ;

[Ardhitya Wiedha Irawan]

Wow.. thank you. This is cool!

[A ZE]

The download attribute of an <a/> element is very useful!

[Mariana Simon]

It's one of my favorites!

[tohka20-0213]

Yet, many aspiring programmers merely skim the surface and move on to CSS, JS, etc, missing its entire potential.

Right!

Some people say that HTML is not programming, but they don't know the depth of it. They only know the tip of the iceberg. HTML attributes are so deep and interesting, and HTML elements are as well.

[Mariana Simon]

Exactly! Getting to know the basics well is really helpful :)