Internet Explorer Mobile HTML Elements
A version of this page is also available for
4/8/2010
There are many elements in the XHTML language and many derivatives. This topic is designed to help understand which elements are supported in which derivative and within Internet Explorer Mobile.
In This Section
The table shows the possible elements available in some of the main variations on the HyperText Markup Language (HTML) theme. These include HTML, XHTML, CHTML, iHTML and WAP.
The XHTML column shows in which module the element is found.
The HTML column indicates at which version of HTML this element was initially supported.
cHTML is compact HTML and is a subset of HTML for a device, for example a Windows Mobile device. To accommodate the restrictions placed on such devices, it does not support tables, frames, style sheets and more than 2-color displays. It also assumes that the device will have limited interactive hardware, such as no keyboard or mouse.
iHTML is inline HTML and is a server side scripting language that works with HTML. This allows for dynamic customization of web sites.
XHTML is the eXtensible HTML and reworked HTML 4.0 into an XML application. XHTML contains the initial building blocks for future HTML extensions. There are Basic and numbered variations of the language. The Basic set contains the minimal set of elements required for an XHTML document type. It has been modularized and where appropriate these have been indicated. These modules include Text, Hypertext, Applet and Client-Side Image Maps.
WAP is the Wireless Application Protocol and is an open standard for applications that with to communicate with wireless devices, such as mobile phones. It is specifically designed to allow web sites to address the challenges of small portable devices.
The following table shows items that Internet Explorer Mobile supports and also indicates which features are available to a Windows Mobile device.
| Element | Windows Mobile 6.5 | XHTML Module | HTML | cHTML | iHTML | Req'd for XHTML Basic? | Req'd for XHTML 2.0 | Req'd for WAP 2.1 | Req'd for HTML 4.01 | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yes |
|
2 |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
|
|
Yes |
|
2 |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
There is no difference in the way Internet Explorer Mobile handles HTML 3.2 vs. HTML 4.0 in this case. This is also the same as no DOCTYPE specified. |
|
Yes |
|
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
For full details see the W3C Web site. |
|
Yes |
Hypertext |
2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Designates the start or destination of a hypertext link. The A element is an inline element and requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
|
4 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Method of giving access/focus to an active HTML element using a keypad number. This feature is only supported on devices with an appropriate input method. |
|
Yes |
Text |
4 |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
|
|
Yes |
|
4 |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Renders its contents in italics. Used to specify information such as the address, signature and authorship for the document. ADDRESS is a block element and requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Text |
4 |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Renders its contents in italics. Used to specify information such as the address, signature and authorship for the document. ADDRESS is a block element and requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Applet |
3.2 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
This will be ignored by the browser unless a JVM is installed. This element is deprecated in HTML 4.0 in favor of <OBJECT> |
|
Yes |
Client-Side Image Map |
3.2 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Defines the shape, coordinates, and associated URL of one hyperlink region within a client-side image MAP. The AREA element is not rendered and requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
|
2 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Specifies that the text should be rendered in bold. The B element is an inline element and requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Base |
2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Specifies an explicit URL used to resolve links and references to external source such as links and images. The BASE element does not require a closing tag |
|
Yes |
Legacy |
3.2 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Sets attributes of default font to be used when rendering text. This does not require a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Legacy |
IE2 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Enables a background sound to be played when the page is visited. BGSOUND does not require a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
|
3 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Specifies that the enclosed text should be in a larger font than the current font. BIG is an inline element and requires a closing tag |
|
Yes |
Text |
2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Sets apart a quotation in text. Text within the tag is indented. BLOCKQUOTE is a block element and requires a closing tag |
|
Yes |
Structure |
2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Denotes the beginning and end of the document body. BODY is a block element and requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Text |
2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Inserts a line break. This element does not require a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
|
4 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Defines a button. |
|
Yes |
Tables |
3 |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Specifies a brief description/caption for a table. The CAPTION element is a block element and requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
|
3.2 |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Centers subsequent text and images. This element is a block element and requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Text |
2 |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Specifies a citation. The enclosed text is rendered in italics. The CITE element is a block element and requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Text |
2 |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Specifies a code sample. The enclosed text is rendered in a mono-spaced font. The CODE element is an inline element and requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
List |
2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Indicates a definition in a definition list (DL). The definition is indented from the definition list. This element is a block element and does not require a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
|
4 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
|
Yes |
Text |
3 |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Indicates the defining instance of a term. The enclosed text is rendered in italics. This element is an inline element and requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
List |
2 |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Denotes a directory list. The DIR element is a block element and requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Text |
3 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Specifies a container/division in the document. This is a block element and requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
List |
2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Denotes a definition list. The DL element is a block element and requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
List |
2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Denotes a definition term within a definition list (DL). The DT element is a block element and does not require a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Text |
2 |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Emphasizes text by rendering it in italics. The EM element is an inline element and requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Legacy |
3 |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Specifies a new font, size, and color to be used for rendering the enclosed text. The FONT element requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Basic Forms |
2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Specifies that the contained controls are part of a form. The FORM element is a block element and requires a closing tag |
|
Yes |
Frames |
4 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Specifies an individual frame within a FRAMESET. FRAME is a block element and does not require a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Frames |
4 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Specifies a frameset consisting of 1 or more frames. The FRAMESET element is a block element and requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Text |
2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Renders text in heading style. Use H1 through H6 to specify different sizes and styles of headings. The Hn element is a block element and requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Structure |
2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Provides an unordered collection of information about the document. The HEAD element requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Text |
2 |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Draws a horizontal rule. The HR element is a block element and does not require a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Structure |
2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Identifies the document as containing HTML elements. The HTML element requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
|
2 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Specifies that the enclosed text should be rendered in italics. The I element is an inline element and requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Iframe |
4 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Specifies an inline frame. IFRAME is a block element and does not require a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Image |
2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Embeds an image in the document. |
|
Yes |
Basic Forms |
4 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Creates a button control. The input type=button element is an inline element and does not require a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Basic Forms |
2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Creates a checkbox control. The checkbox element is an inline element and does not require a closing tag. |
|
Yes* |
|
4 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Only applicable for *Not supported in Windows Mobile Standard. |
|
Yes |
Basic Forms |
2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Used to transmit information about the client/server interaction. This control is not rendered but sends the name/value pair as defined by the attributes below. The hidden element does not require a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Basic Forms |
2 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Creates an image control, when clicked, causes the form to be immediately submitted. The coordinates where the click are measured from the upper-left of the image and are submitted w/the form as two name/value pairs. The x-coordinate is submitted under the name of the control with .x appended, and the y-coordinate is submitted under the name of the control with .y appended. |
|
Yes |
Basic Forms |
2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Creates a single-line text entry control similar to the text control, except that text is not displayed as the user enters it. The input type=password element is an inline element and does not require a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Basic Forms |
2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Creates a radio button control. The input type=radio element is an inline element and does not require a closing tag. Use a radio button control to limit a user's selection to a single value within a set of values. To do this, you must group each button in a set of radio buttons by assigning each button the same name. When a user submits a form, a selected radio button only generates a name/value pair in the form data if the button has a value.Note: if a radio button is in a group and the button has no value, the button name is submitted without a value. |
|
Yes |
Basic Forms |
2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Creates a button that, when clicked, resets the form's controls to their initial values. The reset element is an inline element and does not require a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Basic Forms |
2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Creates a button that, when clicked, submits the form. The input type=submit element is an inline element and does not require a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Basic Forms |
2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Creates a single-line text entry control. The input type=text element is an inline element and does not require a closing tag.Note: if the author places an INPUT without a TYPE attribute or with an invalid TYPE, Internet Explorer Mobile treats it as an INPUT TYPE=text. |
|
Yes |
|
4 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
|
Yes |
Text |
2 |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Renders enclosed text in a fixed-width font. The KBD element is an inline element and requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Basic Forms |
4 |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
|
|
Yes |
|
4 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
LEGEND is not technically supported (you won't see any border, etc.) but the text in the legend will be displayed in boldface. |
|
Yes |
List |
2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Denotes one item in a list. The LI element is an inline element and does not require a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Linking |
4 |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
|
|
Yes |
|
2 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Visually and functionally works like PRE |
|
Yes |
Client-Side Image Map |
3.2 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Defines a client side image map which contains one or more AREAs that specify hot zones on the associated image and bind these zones to URLs. The MAP element requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
|
2 |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Creates an unordered list of items (consisting of LI elements). |
|
Yes |
Meta-information |
2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Conveys hidden information to the server and the client. The META element does not require a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Frames |
4 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Contains HTML for browsers that do not support FRAMES. The NOFRAMES element is a block element and requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Scripting |
3.2 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
|
Yes |
Object Module |
4 |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Inserts an ActiveX control onto the page. The OBJECT element is a block element and requires a closing tag.Note: There is no mechanism in Internet Explorer Mobile to download controls. The author is limited to using controls that have been pre-installed on the device. |
|
Yes |
List |
2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Creates a numbered list consisting of LI elements. |
|
Yes |
|
4 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Recurse into all siblings and show all options regardless of OPTGROUPing. |
|
Yes |
Basic Forms |
2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Denotes one choice in a SELECT element. The OPTION element does not require a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Text |
2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Denotes a paragraph. The P element is a block element and does not require a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Object |
3.2 |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Sets the property value for a given OBJECT. This tag must be inside the associated OBJECT tag. The PARAM element does not require a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Text |
2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Denotes preformatted text and renders it in a fixed pitch font. Spaces and carriage returns within the PRE tag are preserved. The PRE element is a block element and requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
|
3.2 |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Sets apart quotation in text. |
|
Yes |
|
3 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Renders text in strike-through type. The S element is an inline element and requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Text |
2 |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Denotes a code sample. Contents inside the tag are rendered in a fixed pitch font. The SAMP element is an inline element and requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Scripting |
4 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Specifies a block containing script to be interpreted by the script engine. |
|
Yes |
Basic Forms |
2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Denotes a list box or drop-down list. The SELECT element is an inline element and requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
|
3 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Specifies that the enclosed text should be rendered in a smaller font. |
|
Yes |
Text |
4 |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
|
|
Yes |
|
3.2 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Renders enclosed text in strike-through type. The STRIKE element is an inline element and requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Text |
2 |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Renders enclosed text in boldface. The STRONG element is an inline element and requires a closing tag |
|
Yes |
Stylesheet |
4 |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
|
|
Yes |
Text |
3 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Specifies that the enclosed text should be displayed in subscript, using a smaller font than the current font. The SUB element is an inline element and requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Text |
3 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Specifies that the enclosed text should be displayed in superscript, using a smaller font than the current font. The SUP element is an inline element and requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Tables |
3 |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Specifies that the contained content is organized into a table with rows and columns. The TABLE element is a block element and requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Tables |
4 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
|
Yes |
Tables |
3 |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Specifies a cell in a table. The TD element is a block element and requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Basic Forms |
2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Specifies a multi-line text input control. The TEXTAREA element is an inline element and requires a closing tag |
|
Yes |
Tables |
4 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
|
Yes |
Tables |
3 |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Specifies a header column of a table. Contents of the TH are centered within the cell and bold, unless overridden. The TH element is a block element and requires a closing tag. Note: this is almost the same as a TD except for the default formatting. |
|
Yes |
Tables |
4 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
|
Yes |
Structure |
2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Contains the title of the document. The TITLE element is a block element and requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Tables |
3 |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Specifies a row in a table. The TR element is a block element and requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
|
2 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Renders text in a fixed pitch font. The TT element is an inline element and requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
|
3 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Renders text that is underlined. The U element is an inline element and requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
List |
2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Creates a bulleted list consisting of list items (LI). The UL element is a block element and requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
Text |
2 |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Renders enclosed text in italics. The VAR element is an inline element and requires a closing tag. |
|
Yes |
|
IE5 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Defines a XML data island. |
|
Yes |
|
2 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Visually and functionally works like PRE |