HTML _{and ^Tags}

The HTML <sub> element marks subscript text and <sup> marks superscript text when the vertical position has semantic meaning, such as chemical formulas, exponents, footnote markers or ordinals.

<p>Water: H<sub>2</sub>O</p>
<p>Area: x<sup>2</sup></p>

Water: H₂O

Area: x²

Use SUB/SUP for meaning, not decorative positioning Top ↑

If you only need to move text visually, use CSS. <sub> and <sup> should represent content that conventionally appears below or above the baseline.

More examples Top ↑

<p>E = mc<sup>2</sup></p>
<p>CO<sub>2</sub></p>
<p>1<sup>st</sup> place</p>

Related Tutorials Top ↑

Frequently Asked Questions Top ↑

What is SUB used for?

Subscript text such as the 2 in H2O.

What is SUP used for?

Superscript text such as an exponent or footnote marker.

Should SUB/SUP be used to make text smaller?

No. Their purpose is semantic subscript/superscript placement.

Can CSS style them?

Yes.

Can SUB and SUP appear inside paragraphs?

Yes, they are phrasing elements.

Subhendu Mohapatra

Author & Instructor at plus2net

I write and maintain practical tutorials on Python, PHP, SQL, JavaScript, HTML, jQuery, and web development at plus2net. The tutorials focus on clear explanations, working examples, and code that readers can test and adapt while learning.

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