<kbd>

The HTML <kbd> element represents user input and produces an inline element displayed in the browser's default monospace font.

Content categories	Flow content, phrasing content, palpable content.
Permitted content	Phrasing content.
Tag omission	None, both the starting and ending tag are mandatory.
Permitted parents	Any element that accepts phrasing content.
Permitted ARIA roles	Any
DOM interface	HTMLElement Up to Gecko 1.9.2 (Firefox 4) inclusive, Firefox implements the interface HTMLSpanElement for this element.

Attributes

This element only includes the global attributes.

Examples

<p>Type the following in the Run dialog:
  <kbd>cmd</kbd><br />Then click the OK button.</p>

<p>Save the document by pressing
  <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>S</kbd></p>

Result

Note

A CSS rule can be defined for the kbd selector to override the browser's default font face. Preferences set by the user might take precedence over the specified CSS.

When the <kbd> element is nested inside a <samp> element, it represents the input as it was echoed by the system.

When the <kbd> element contains a <samp> element, it represents input based on system output, for example invoking a menu item.

When the <kbd> element is nested inside another <kbd> element, it represents an actual key or other single unit of input as appropriate for the input mechanism.

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
WHATWG HTML Living Standard The definition of '<kbd>' in that specification.	Living Standard
HTML5 The definition of '<kbd>' in that specification.	Recommendation	Expanded to include any user input, like voice input and individual keystrokes.
HTML 4.01 Specification The definition of '<kbd>' in that specification.	Recommendation

Browser compatibility

See also

• <code>