HTML Page Title

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1. What is the <title> Tag

The HTML Page Title is defined by the <title> tag, displayed in the browser tab, search results, and bookmarks. It’s vital for SEO, user experience, and accessibility—keep it concise, descriptive, and unique for each page.

The <title> tag is an HTML element used to define the title of a web page. This title is displayed in:

  1. The browser’s title bar or tab.
  2. Search engine results (as the clickable headline for the page).
  3. Bookmarks or favorites when a user saves the page.

It is a required element in every HTML document and must be placed within the <head> section.

Syntax

<title>Your Page Title Here</title>
HTML

  • The <title> tag is a container tag, meaning it has an opening (<title>) and closing (</title>) tag.
  • The text between the opening and closing tags is the title of the page.

2. Where to Place the <title> Tag

The <title> tag must be placed inside the <head> section of the HTML document. The <head> section contains metadata (information about the document) that is not displayed on the web page itself.

Example:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
    <title>My Awesome Web Page</title>
</head>
<body>
    <h1>Welcome to My Web Page</h1>
    <p>This is a sample HTML page.</p>
</body>
</html>
HTML

HTML Page Title

3. Key Features of the <title> Tag

Browser Display:

  • The title appears in the browser’s title bar or tab.
  • Example: If the title is “My Awesome Web Page,” the browser tab will display this text.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO):

  • Search engines like Google use the <title> tag to understand the content of the page.
  • A well-written title can improve the page’s ranking in search results.

Bookmarks:

  • When a user bookmarks the page, the title is used as the default name for the bookmark.

Accessibility:

  • Screen readers use the title to announce the page to visually impaired users.

4. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Missing <title> Tag:

  • Without a <title> tag, the browser will display the file name or a blank title, which looks unprofessional.

Using the Same Title for All Pages:

  • This can confuse users and search engines, making it harder to distinguish between pages.

Writing Titles That Are Too Long:

  • Long titles may get cut off in search results or browser tabs.

Ignoring SEO:

  • Failing to include relevant keywords can make it harder for your page to rank in search results.

5. Browser Behavior

  • If you don’t include a <title> tag, the browser will display the file name or a blank title.
  • Example: If the file is named index.html, the browser tab might display “index.html” instead of a proper title.

Conclusion

The <title> tag is a small but crucial part of an HTML document. It plays a significant role in:

  • Improving user experience by clearly identifying the page.
  • Enhancing SEO by helping search engines understand and rank the page.
  • Ensuring accessibility for screen reader users.