HomeSuggestions for Deprecated Elements and Attributes
This page provides suggested solutions for elements and attributes deprecated in HTML 4.01.
The target audience of this page is the content developer of the web sites for use by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.
Reference has been made to the W3C HTML Techniques for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 (www.w3.org/TR/2000/NOTE-WCAG10-HTML-TECHS-20001106/).
Deprecated Elements - Suggestions
<applet>
Allows embedding of a Java applet into HTML documents
Recommended solution: Use <object>
Most user agents have built-in mechanisms for rendering common data types such as text, gif images, colors, fonts, and a handful of graphic elements. To render data types they don't support natively, user agents generally run external applications. The <object> element allows authors to control whether data should be rendered externally or by some program, specified by the author, that renders the data within the user agent.
Suggestion
<applet> has been deprecated in favour of <object>. Consult the W3C HTML 4.01 Specification (www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/struct/objects.html#edef-OBJECT) for usage of the <object> element.
<basefont>
Used to set the base font size for the page
Recommended solution: Use stylesheets
The <basefont> element sets the base font size (using the size attribute). Font size changes achieved with <font> are relative to the base font size set by <basefont>. If <basefont> is not used, the default base font size is 3
Suggestion
Set the font within the CSS Style Sheet.
font-size: 0.9em;
<center>
Centre aligns the enclosed objects
Recommended solution: Use stylesheets
The <center> element is exactly equivalent to specifying the <div> element with the align attribute set to center.
Suggestion
text-align: center;
<dir>
Indicates that the listing is a directory and works with <li> in the same way <ul> does while generally rendering the same way
Recommended solution: Use <ul> or stylesheets
The <dir> element was designed to be used for creating multicolumn directory lists. This element has the same structure as <ul>, just different rendering. In practice, a user agent will render a <dir> list exactly as a <ul> list.
Suggestion
<ul>
<li>apples</li>
<li>oranges</li>
<li>pears</li>
</ul>
<font>
Assigns various font effects on the text
Recommended solution: Use stylesheets
The <font> element changes the font size and color for text in its contents.
Suggestion
font-size: 0.9em;
font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, Sans-serif;
font-weight: bold;
<isindex>
Indicates that the user should provide a single line text input field for entering a query string
Recommended solution: Use the <form> element enclosing the <input> element
This element creates a single-line text input control. Authors should use the <input> element to create text input controls.
Suggestion
<input type="text" name="myinput" value="">
<menu>
Indicates the start a series of choices and is generally rendered like <ul>
Recommended solution: Use <ul> or stylesheets
The <menu> element was designed to be used for single column menu lists. This element has the same structure as <ul>, just different rendering. In practice, a user agent will render a <menu> list exactly as a <ul> list.
Suggestion
<ul>
<li>apples</li>
<li>oranges</li>
<li>pears</li>
</ul>
<s>
Creates a strike-through effect on the text (equivalent to the <strike> element)
Recommended solution: Use the <del> element, or use stylesheets for presentation effects only
Renders strike-through style text.
Suggestion
<del>text</del>
or
text-decoration: line-through;
<strike>
WCAG description (www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/present/graphics.html#edef-STRIKE)
Creates a strike-through effect on the text (equivalent to the <s> element)
Recommended solution: Use the <del> element, or use stylesheets for presentation effects only
Renders strike-through style text.
Suggestion
<del>text</del>
or
text-decoration: line-through;
<u>
Underlines the text
Recommended solution: Do not underline text
Renders underlined text.
Suggestion
Do not underline text unless it is a hyperlink. Underlined text can be confused with being a hyperlink and detracts from the usability of the web page.