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HTML Tags

HTML <param> Tag

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

html

<param name="parameterName" value="parameterValue">

Attributes

AttributeDescription
nameSpecifies the name of the parameter.
valueSets the value of the parameter.
typeSpecifies the MIME type of the parameter (rarely used).
id / classStandard HTML attributes to reference or style the parameter.

Example

html

<!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="https://ik.imagekit.io/html5andcss3/lesson-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

html

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
Edge
Firefox
Safari
Opera
IE9+
YesYesYesYesYesYes

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.

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