The
<param>tag is used to define parameters for plugins or objects embedded with the<object>element.
It provides additional data or settings for the embedded resource, such as specifying an audio file autoplay option.
Syntax
<param name="parameterName" value="parameterValue">Attributes
| Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
name | Specifies the name of the parameter. |
value | Sets the value of the parameter. |
type | Specifies the MIME type of the parameter (rarely used). |
id / class | Standard HTML attributes to reference or style the parameter. |
Example
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
<title>Param Tag Example</title>
</head>
<body>
<h2>Embedding an Audio File (Legacy Example)</h2>
<object data="/samples/audio.mp3" width="400" height="300">
<param name="autoplay" value="true">
<param name="loop" value="false">
Your browser does not support audio file in Object Tag.
</object>
</body>
</html>Output
Browser Output
There is no direct visible output for the <param> tag itself — it only passes configuration to the <object> plugin (like autoplay or loop).
Use our Try It Editor to see how the <param> settings affect the embedded object.
Browser Support
 Chrome |  Firefox |  Edge |  Safari |  Opera |  IE9+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes |
The <param> tag is supported in all major browsers and Internet Explorer 9+, but its effect depends on the embedded object and browser plugin.
Notes
<param>must be a child of<object>; it cannot exist independently.- Used primarily for legacy plugin content (like Flash or custom PDF viewers).
- Modern web practices often replace
<param>with native HTML5 attributes or JavaScript configuration. - Always provide fallback content inside
<object>for unsupported browsers or missing plugins.
Conclusion
The <param> tag is a helper element for configuring embedded objects.
While mostly used in legacy plugin content, understanding it helps maintain backward compatibility and correctly configure embedded resources.
