HTML <basefont> Tag
What does the <basefont> Tag do?
The <basefont> tag is one of the HTML elements that are extremely rare in use these days. Rather, it’s almost forgotten in modern web development practice because it’s already become obsolete and is not supported in HTML5. However, it’s worth it to know what it used to do, especially if you’re working with older websites.
The <basefont> tag, simply put, was used to define the default font size, color, and face for text that displays on the entire web page. It is similar to setting a default look for your text so that every piece of text on the page would inherently conform to that style unless you decide to override it with some other styling.
How did the <basefont> Tag work?
Back in the day, if you wanted to apply a consistent font style across the entire page, you could use the <basefont> tag to quickly define a uniform font size, color, and face. This was particularly handy because you didn’t have to apply those styles to every single element individually.
For example, you could have something like this:
<basefont face="Arial" size="4" color="blue">
What this would do is make the entire text on the page follow the font face “Arial,” use a size 4, and be blue in color. So, you didn’t have to go around styling every individual piece of text—this one tag applied to everything!
Why would you use the <basefont> tag?
You might wonder, why would anyone ever use the <basefont> tag? Well, back in the day, it was actually a pretty neat way to manage your page’s typography. It was useful for a couple of reasons:
- It was quick and simple: Instead of having to go through your HTML and style every single paragraph, heading, or other text element, you could just add the
<basefont>tag, and boom—your entire page would have a consistent look. It was efficient, especially when CSS wasn’t as widely used or accessible. - It worked without needing CSS: For people who weren’t as familiar with CSS, the
<basefont>tag offered a simple way to define how text should appear, without having to dive into the complexities of cascading styles. - It provided a global effect: You could set your desired font style once. It would automatically apply to everything on the page. This was particularly useful when you were working with simple websites and didn’t need the flexibility of more advanced styling.
What to keep in mind about the <basefont> tag?
While it might have been handy back in the day, there are a few things you should keep in mind:
- It’s deprecated: The
<basefont>tag has been deprecated for a long time now. This means it’s no longer supported in HTML5, and modern browsers don’t necessarily support it either. You can still see it used on old websites, but it’s no longer part of the current HTML standard. - CSS is now the way to go: Today, we use CSS to manage font styles, which is far more powerful and flexible. With CSS, you can apply different fonts, sizes, and colors selectively to various parts of the page, and it gives you full control over your webpage’s design.
- It applied to everything: While it was convenient, the
<basefont>tag applied the style to every piece of text on the page. So if you wanted some text to look different from the default, you had to either override the style with inline styles or use more advanced methods.
An Example of the <basefont> Tag in Action
Here’s how you would have used the <basefont> tag in practice, back when it was still commonly used:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
<title>Basefont Tag Example</title>
<!-- Set the base font style -->
<basefont face="Arial" size="4" color="blue">
</head>
<body>
<h1>Welcome to My Website</h1>
<p>This is some text on the page that uses the settings from the <code><basefont></code> tag.</p>
</body>
</html>
In this example:
- Font face would be set to Arial.
- Font size would be set to size 4.
- Font color would be set to blue.
This would apply to all text on the page—headings, paragraphs, lists, everything!
Why shouldn’t you use the <basefont> tag today?
- It’s outdated: The
<basefont>tag has been deprecated for many years and is no longer supported in HTML5. Using it in modern web development could cause issues with compatibility, and it’s not considered a good practice. - CSS is more powerful: Today, we use CSS for styling, which gives you much more control. With CSS, you can target specific elements, apply different styles based on screen size, and make your website look great across all devices. Plus, CSS is supported everywhere and is more future-proof than the old
<basefont>tag. - It’s limited: The
<basefont>tag applied the style globally across the entire page. If you wanted to change the look of just one section or element, it would have been tricky without extra styling or inline CSS.
For instance, here’s how you’d do the same thing today using CSS:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
<title>Basefont Tag Replacement Example</title>
<style>
body {
font-family: Arial;
font-size: 16px;
color: blue;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Welcome to My Website</h1>
<p>This is some text on the page, styled with CSS instead of the deprecated <code><basefont></code> tag.</p>
</body>
</html>
This is how you would do it today. It’s cleaner, more efficient, and more flexible.
When should you use the <basefont> tag?
In short, you shouldn’t use the <basefont> tag today. It’s outdated and has been replaced by CSS, which is more powerful, flexible, and modern. If you’re maintaining old code or working with legacy websites, you may come across the <basefont> tag, but it’s always best to update it to modern CSS for better compatibility and performance.
In Conclusion
The <basefont> tag was once a convenient way to apply a uniform font style across a webpage, but it’s now obsolete and deprecated. While it served a purpose back in the day, today’s web development relies on CSS to manage font styles. CSS offers much more control, flexibility, and support across browsers. So if you’re building a website today, CSS is the way to go.