The
<del>tag in HTML represents deleted or removed text.
Browsers typically display it with a strikethrough, indicating that the content is no longer valid or has been replaced.
It is an inline element and is often used in combination with<ins>for edits and revisions.
Syntax
<del>Deleted text here</del>Attributes
| Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
class | Assigns one or more class names for styling. |
id | Assigns a unique identifier to the element. |
style | Adds inline CSS styles to customize appearance. |
cite | URL indicating the source of the change or deletion. |
datetime | Specifies the date and time of the deletion. |
title | Provides additional information as a tooltip. |
Example
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>DEL Tag Example</title>
<style>
.removed {
color: #d32f2f;
text-decoration: line-through;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<h1>HTML <del> Tag Example</h1>
<p>
Original price: <del class="removed" id="old-price" datetime="2025-10-29" cite="https://example.com" title="Old Price">₹500</del>
</p>
<p>
Updated price: ₹350
</p>
</body>
</html>Output
Browser Output
Use our TryIt Editor to see the output.
Browser Support
Chrome | Firefox | Edge | Safari | Opera | IE9+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes |
The <del> tag visually marks text as deleted using a strikethrough.
It is commonly used for showing revisions, discounts, or removed content.
Notes
<del>is an inline element and does not break the flow of surrounding text.- Combine with
<ins>to indicate inserted content alongside deletions. - The
datetimeandciteattributes add semantic metadata about the deletion. They are not visually rendered but can be read and interpreted by search engines, screen readers, and other tools. - CSS can further style
<del>to modify color, thickness, or strikethrough style.
Conclusion
The <del> tag highlights deleted or obsolete content in HTML.
It is ideal for revision tracking, pricing updates, or marking removed information on a webpage.