Web/HTML/Element/small

The 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.

The source for this interactive example is stored in a GitHub repository. If you'd like to contribute to the interactive examples project, please clone https://github.com/mdn/interactive-examples and send us a pull request.

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	No corresponding role
Permitted ARIA roles	Any
DOM interface	`HTMLElement`

Attributes

This element only includes the global attributes.

Examples

Basic usage

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

CSS alternative

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

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comments
HTML Living StandardThe definition of '<small>' in that specification.	Living Standard
HTML5The definition of '<small>' in that specification.	Recommendation
HTML 4.01 SpecificationThe definition of '<small>' in that specification.	Recommendation

Notes

Although the  element, like the  and  elements, may be perceived to violate the principle of separation between structure and presentation, all three are valid in HTML5. Authors are encouraged to use their best judgement when determining whether to use  or CSS.

Browser compatibility

Update compatibility data on GitHub

	Desktop						Mobile
	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Internet Explorer	Opera	Safari	Android webview	Chrome for Android	Firefox for Android	Opera for Android	Safari on iOS	Samsung Internet
`small`	Chrome Full support Yes	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 1	IE Full support Yes	Opera Full support Yes	Safari Full support Yes	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android Full support 4	Opera Android Full support Yes	Safari iOS Full support Yes	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes

Legend

Full support: Full support