HTML Tags

HTML <audio> Tag

The <audio> tag is used to embed sound content in an HTML document, such as music, podcasts, or sound effects.
It supports multiple audio formats and provides playback controls like play, pause, and volume.

Syntax

html

<audio controls>
  <source src="audiofile.mp3" type="audio/mpeg">
  <source src="audiofile.ogg" type="audio/ogg">
  Your browser does not support the audio element.
</audio>

Attributes

Attribute	Description	Example
src	Specifies the path to the audio file.	src="song.mp3"
controls	Displays play, pause, and volume controls.	controls
autoplay	Automatically starts playing the audio.	autoplay
loop	Repeats the audio after it ends.	loop
muted	Starts the audio in a muted state.	muted
preload	Specifies how the audio should be loaded. Values: none, metadata, auto.	preload="auto"

Example

html

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
  <title>Audio Tag Example</title>
</head>
<body>
  <h2>Example: Embedding an Audio File</h2>
  <audio controls preload="metadata">
    <source src="https://www.soundhelix.com/examples/mp3/SoundHelix-Song-1.mp3" type="audio/mpeg">
    <source src="https://www.soundhelix.com/examples/mp3/SoundHelix-Song-1.ogg" type="audio/ogg">
    Your browser does not support the audio element.
  </audio>
</body>
</html>

Output

Browser Output

html

Displays a built-in audio player with play, pause, volume, and timeline controls.
Use our Try It Editor to test and hear the output with your own audio file.

Browser Support

Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Safari	Opera	IE9+
Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

The <audio> tag is fully supported by all major browsers.
Older browsers (IE8 and below) do not fully support HTML audio playback.
However, some IE version may support different audio formats such as MP3, OGG, or WAV.

Notes

You can include multiple <source> elements to ensure cross-browser compatibility.
If the browser doesn’t support the <audio> tag, the fallback text inside will be displayed.
Avoid using autoplay without user consent to prevent accessibility and UX issues.

Conclusion

The <audio> tag provides an easy and standardized way to integrate sound into web pages.
By combining multiple formats and attributes, you can create rich multimedia experiences with full browser compatibility.

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