<small>: the side comment element

Baseline Widely available

This feature is well established and works across many devices and browser versions. It’s been available across browsers since July 2015.

The <small> HTML element represents side-comments and small print, like copyright and legal text, independent of its styled presentation. By default, it renders text within it one font-size smaller, such as from small to x-small.

Try it

Attributes

This element only includes the global attributes.

Examples

Basic usage

html
<p>
  This is the first sentence.
  <small>This whole sentence is in small letters.</small>
</p>

Result

CSS alternative

html
<p>
  This is the first sentence.
  <span style="font-size:0.8em">This whole sentence is in small letters.</span>
</p>

Result

Notes

Although the <small> element, like the <b> and <i> elements, may be perceived to violate the principle of separation between structure and presentation, all three are valid in HTML. Authors are encouraged to use their best judgement when determining whether to use <small> or CSS.

Technical summary

Content categories Flow content, phrasing content.
Permitted content Phrasing content
Tag omission None; must have both a start tag and an end tag.
Permitted parents Any element that accepts phrasing content, or any element that accepts flow content.
Implicit ARIA role generic
Permitted ARIA roles Any
DOM interface HTMLElement

Specifications

Specification
HTML
# the-small-element

Browser compatibility

BCD tables only load in the browser

See also