HTML <small> element

The <small> element represents side comments and small print. It is used for short pieces of text such as disclaimers, caveats, legal notes, copyright statements, licensing notes, or brief secondary comments.

The name can be misleading. Browsers often display it smaller by default, but its HTML meaning is side-note or fine-print content. To change the size of text for design reasons, use CSS font-size.

For example, a price may have a short note saying that tax is not included, or an image may have a small licensing note. Those are good uses because the text is connected to the main content but sits slightly to the side of it.

The <small> element should not be used for long sections of terms, policies, or legal documents. If the whole page is legal text, then that text is the main content of the page, not a small side comment.

Small print can still matter. You can combine <small> with <strong> for importance or <em> for stress emphasis; <small> does not cancel either meaning. In the example below, the booking requirement is a short side note, but <strong> marks the part the reader needs to take seriously.

Attributes: GLOBALS.

Typical layout:
<p>
  Entry is free.
  <small>Places are limited.
    <strong>Booking is required.</strong>
  </small>
</p>

Visual representation: