Syntax
<abbr title="HyperText Markup Language">HTML</abbr>Examples
Basic Abbreviation
Marking up a common acronym with its full meaning.
<p><abbr title="HyperText Markup Language">HTML</abbr> is the standard markup language for the web.</p>Multiple Abbreviations in Context
Using abbr for several technical terms in a paragraph.
<p>Modern web development relies on <abbr title="Application Programming Interface">API</abbr>s that communicate using <abbr title="JavaScript Object Notation">JSON</abbr>.</p>Styled Abbreviation
Giving the abbreviation a visual hint that it has a tooltip.
<abbr title="Cascading Style Sheets" style="text-decoration: underline dotted; cursor: help;">CSS</abbr>Attributes
- title (string): The full expansion of the abbreviation, shown as a tooltip
Best practices
- Always include the title attribute with the full expansion — without it, abbr provides little value
- Expand the abbreviation in the title on its first meaningful use in a document
- Do not overuse abbr for terms that are already universally understood, like "HTML" itself in a web dev context
- Consider that hover-only tooltips are not accessible on touch devices, so do not rely on abbr as the only place an important term is explained
Browser compatibility
Support applies to the named feature, not every attribute or behaviour in this article. Versions refer to browsers, not operating systems.
<abbr>
Desktop
- Chrome
- Supported
From 2 - Firefox
- Supported
From 1 - Safari
- Supported
From 4 - Edge
- Supported
From 12 - Opera
- Supported
From 15
Mobile
- Safari on iOS
- Supported
From 3.2 - Chrome for Android
- Supported
From 18 - Firefox for Android
- Supported
From 4 - Samsung Internet
- Supported
From 1.0
MDN BCD record for this feature · MDN reference
Support history and limitations
Chrome
- From 2
Firefox
- From 1 · Before Firefox 4, this element implemented the HTMLSpanElement interface instead of the standard HTMLElement interface.
Safari
- From 4
Edge
- From 12
Opera
- From 15
Safari on iOS
- From 3.2
Chrome for Android
- From 18
Firefox for Android
- From 4
Samsung Internet
- From 1.0
title
Desktop
- Chrome
- Supported
From 1 - Firefox
- Supported
From 1 - Safari
- Supported
By 4 (possibly earlier) - Edge
- Supported
From 12 - Opera
- Supported
From 15
Mobile
- Safari on iOS
- Supported
By 3.2 (possibly earlier) - Chrome for Android
- Supported
From 18 - Firefox for Android
- Supported
From 4 - Samsung Internet
- Supported
From 1.0
MDN BCD record for this feature · MDN reference
Support history and limitations
Chrome
- From 1
Firefox
- From 1
Safari
- By 4 (possibly earlier)
Edge
- From 12
Opera
- From 15
Safari on iOS
- By 3.2 (possibly earlier)
Chrome for Android
- From 18
Firefox for Android
- From 4
Samsung Internet
- From 1.0
MDN BCD 8.1.5 · Dataset built 2026-10-08 · Mapping reviewed 2026-10-21. These dates are not individual browser-test or claim-verification dates. Unknown means the data does not establish support.