# HTML - HTML Document

Syntax | <HTML>...</HTML>

Attribute Specifications

- VERSION=CDATA (HTML version)
- internationalization attributes

Contents

- In HTML 4.0 Strict and Transitional: HEAD followed by BODY
- In HTML 4.0 Frameset: HEAD followed by FRAMESET

Contained in | Not applicable--HTML is a top-level element

The HTML element contains the HTML document, made up of the HEAD followed by the BODY, except in Frameset documents where the FRAMESET element replaces the BODY. The start and end tags of the HTML element are both optional.

The LANG attribute is typically set on the HTML element to specify the base language of the document. The language should be specified according to RFC 1766; examples include en for English, en-US for American English, and ja for Japanese.

The deprecated VERSION attribute specifies the Document Type Definition (DTD) that describes the document. This attribute should not be used since the DOCTYPE declaration makes it redundant.

## More Information

- HTML in W3C HTML 4.0 Recommendation
- HTML in W3C HTML 3.2 Recommendation
- HTML in HTML 2.0 Standard
- HTML in WDG HTML 3.2 Reference
- HTML in Learning HTML 3.2 by Examples