HTML <s> Tag

The <s> tag in HTML is used to represent text that is no longer accurate, relevant, or correct, often referred to as “strikethrough” text. Unlike <del> or <ins>, which indicate deletions or additions in a document with semantic meaning, <s> is primarily stylistic, showing that the content is outdated or no longer valid without implying a formal edit or change in the document’s history.

Text enclosed within the <s> tag is typically rendered with a line through the middle of the text, signaling to the reader that the content should be disregarded, such as outdated prices, deprecated terminology, or superseded information.

Use Cases:

• Displaying a previous price alongside a discounted price in e-commerce sites.
• Indicating old information that has been replaced but is kept for reference.
• Styling text to visually show negation or removal without implying a deletion in document revision terms.

Example:

<p>Original price: <s>$99.99</s> Now only $49.99!</p>

In this example, the <s> tag is used to visually indicate that the original price is no longer valid.

Key Points:

• It is purely visual and does not carry semantic meaning of document changes.
• Should not be used to indicate deletions in legal or historical contexts; <del> is more appropriate in those cases.
• Helps improve clarity for users by showing obsolete or corrected information.