HTML profile Attribute

HTML profile Attribute

The obsolete HTML profile attribute was historically used on the <head> element to specify one or more metadata profiles that defined how metadata properties and values in a document could be interpreted.

Historical Syntax

The profile attribute was placed on the document's <head> element. Its value contained one or more URLs identifying metadata profiles.

<head profile="https://www.example.com/profile">
  <title>Example Page</title>
</head>

The referenced profile could define conventions for metadata used within the document's <head>.

Historical Elements

The obsolete profile attribute was associated with the <head> element.

Historical Use

A metadata profile could provide additional information about conventions used in the document's metadata. This allowed metadata names and values to be interpreted according to rules described outside the HTML document.

<head profile="https://www.example.com/profile">
  <title>Garden Guide</title>
  <meta name="author" content="Example Author">
</head>

In this type of markup, the profile URL identified the metadata profile while elements inside <head> supplied metadata about the document.

The profile attribute itself did not display content on the webpage and did not provide visual styling.

Why It Became Obsolete

The metadata profile mechanism provided by the profile attribute was not retained as part of modern HTML. Current HTML provides defined metadata mechanisms without requiring a document-wide profile attribute on <head>.

Because different types of modern metadata have their own rules and formats, there is no single HTML attribute that directly replaces the historical profile mechanism.

Modern Alternative

There is no direct modern replacement for the profile attribute. Remove it from the <head> element and use the metadata mechanism appropriate for the information being provided.

Historical HTML

<head profile="https://www.example.com/profile">
  <title>Garden Guide</title>
  <meta name="author" content="Example Author">
</head>

Modern HTML

<head>
  <title>Garden Guide</title>
  <meta name="author" content="Example Author">
</head>

Standard metadata supported by HTML can be included directly with elements such as <meta> and <link>. Other metadata systems may define their own markup or data formats and should be implemented according to the requirements of that system.

Legacy Browser Support

The profile attribute was part of older HTML metadata markup, but webpages should not depend on it for current metadata processing.

Modern HTML documents should omit the attribute and use current metadata features appropriate to the information being described.

For additional information about historical browser compatibility, visit Can I Use? . Search for the HTML element or attribute you want to check. Search results can include related HTML features, element attributes, APIs, and other technologies, so select the result that most closely matches the legacy feature you are researching.

Related Attributes

Other attributes associated with document metadata and linked resources include:

• name - Identifies the type of metadata provided by certain <meta> elements.
• content - Provides the metadata value for a <meta> element when used with attributes such as name.
• rel - Describes the relationship between the document and a resource referenced by a <link> element.
• href - Specifies the URL of a resource referenced by elements such as <link>.
• scheme - An obsolete attribute historically used to provide additional information about how metadata values should be interpreted.

Specifications

The profile attribute on the <head> element is obsolete and must not be used in modern HTML. See the WHATWG HTML Living Standard for information about obsolete and non-conforming features.