This rule is deprecated, and will eventually be removed.

## Why is this an issue?

The `<strong>`/`<b>` and `<em>`/`<i>` tags have exactly the same effect in most web browsers, but there is a fundamental difference between them: `<strong>` and `<em>` have a semantic meaning whereas `<b>` and `<i>` only convey styling information like CSS.

While `<b>` can have simply no effect on a some devices with limited display or when a screen reader software is used by a blind person, `<strong>` will:

- Display the text bold in normal browsers
- Speak with lower tone when using a screen reader such as Jaws

Consequently:

- in order to convey semantics, the `<b>` and `<i>` tags shall never be used,
- in order to convey styling information, the `<b>` and `<i>` should be avoided and CSS should be used instead.

### Noncompliant code example

    <i>car</i>             <!-- Noncompliant -->
    <b>train</b>         <!-- Noncompliant -->

### Compliant solution

    <em>car</em>
    <strong>train</strong>

### Exceptions

This rule is relaxed in case of icon fonts usage.

    <i class="..." aria-hidden="true" />    <!-- Compliant icon fonts usage -->