# Using the language attribute on the `HTML` element

ID: H57

3.1.1 Language of Page

Technology: html

Type: Technique

## When to Use

HTML

## Description

The objective of this technique is to identify the default language of a document by providing the `lang` attribute on the `html` element.

Identifying the language of the document is important for a number of reasons:

- It allows braille translation software to substitute control codes for accented characters, and insert control codes necessary to prevent erroneous creation of Grade 2 braille contractions.
- Speech synthesizers that support multiple languages will be able to orient and adapt to the pronunciation and syntax that are specific to the language of the page, speaking the text in the appropriate accent with proper pronunciation.
- Marking the language can benefit future developments in technology, for example users who are unable to translate between languages themselves will be able to use machines to translate unfamiliar languages.
- Marking the language can also assist user agents in providing definitions using a dictionary.

## Examples

### Defining the content of an HTML document to be in French

    <!doctype html>
    <html lang="fr">
    <head>
      <meta charset="utf-8">
      <title>document écrit en français</title>
    </head>
    <body>
      ... document écrit en français ...
    </body>
    </html>

## Tests

### Procedure

Examine the `html` element of the document.

1. Check that the `html` element has a `lang` attribute.
2. Check that the value of the `lang` attribute conforms to BCP 47: Tags for Identifying Languages; Matching of Language Tags or its successor and reflects the primary language used by the Web page.

### Expected Results

- Checks #1 and #2 are true.

## Related Techniques

- H58

## Resources

- HTML - The `lang` and `xml:lang` attributes.
- HTML "`lang`" attribute on the Mozilla Developer Network.
- BCP 47: Tags for Identifying Languages; Matching of Language Tags.
- Language tags in HTML and XML.