Several familiar HTML elements are obsolete for new authoring, but “obsolete” does not mean every browser has stopped displaying them. The current authority is the continuously maintained WHATWG HTML Living Standard, which distinguishes obsolete-but-conforming features from features that are non-conforming and must not be used by authors. Here are five legacy features, what they were for, and how to migrate according to the purpose they served.
What does “obsolete” mean in HTML?
The standard uses more than one conformance status. Its obsolete-but-conforming section identifies features that may still be conforming in limited circumstances but trigger warnings. Its non-conforming list identifies features authors must not use. The standard introduces the latter with: “Elements in the following list are entirely obsolete, and must not be used by authors.”
That is an authoring rule, not a promise about browser behavior. A browser may still parse or display old markup; that does not make the markup conforming for new work. The examples below are a selective migration guide, not a complete inventory of obsolete HTML features.
Which HTML tags are obsolete, and what should you use instead?
1. <font>: move visual styling to CSS
The <font> element was used to set text presentation such as its size, color, or typeface. It is listed among obsolete non-conforming elements. Use CSS for those visual choices, keeping presentation separate from the document’s semantic markup.
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}2. <center>: use CSS alignment and layout
<center> centered its contents by combining presentation with markup. Use CSS layout and alignment properties to control position. Choose the HTML element for what the content means, not where it appears on the page. The WHATWG standard lists <center> as non-conforming; the MDN HTML elements reference is a useful companion for checking element descriptions.
<div class="centered">Centered content</div>
.centered {
text-align: center;
}3. <frame> and <frameset>: rethink the page structure
These elements formed a legacy frame-layout system and are best treated as one migration case. Both are non-conforming in the standard. There is no single replacement: decide whether the old frame was meant to embed a separate document or assemble shared page regions.
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- Embed a separate page in the document: use
<iframe>when that is the intended experience. MDN describes it as the element for embedding a page into a document body. - Reuse shared page components: consider server-side includes or another server-side composition approach when the goal is to assemble common regions such as navigation or a footer.
- Build a single page layout: use ordinary semantic HTML with CSS layout rather than reproducing a frameset.
The right migration depends on the content, navigation, and expected user experience; an iframe is not a drop-in substitute for every frameset.
4. <acronym>: use <abbr>
<acronym> marked an acronym. Use <abbr> for abbreviations and acronyms instead, adding a title attribute when an expansion or explanation would help readers.
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<p>The <abbr title="World Wide Web Consortium">W3C</abbr> publishes web standards.</p>5. <applet>: replace the integration, not just the tag
<applet> embedded Java applets. The standard marks it entirely obsolete and suggests <embed> or <object> as alternatives for embedding content. Treat those as possible migration directions, not as a guarantee that historical applets remain viable or that either element recreates every applet use case. Identify the applet’s actual function and replace it with a currently supported implementation appropriate to that function.
Is <frameset> still supported?
Browser handling and standards conformance are separate questions. Existing pages may continue to render in some browsers, but the WHATWG standard lists both <frameset> and <frame> as non-conforming for authoring. MDN labels <frameset> deprecated and advises against using it in new projects. Do not infer that an element is acceptable for new markup just because a browser still recognizes it.
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Is this the complete list of obsolete HTML features?
No. These five examples cover common legacy patterns, but the standard’s obsolete-feature list also includes elements such as <dir>, <isindex>, <keygen>, <marquee>, <strike>, <basefont>, <big>, <blink>, <nobr>, and <tt>, as well as obsolete attributes. Check the current WHATWG obsolete-features section for the full, maintained status and guidance.
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