Home > Articles

Adding Text and More

This chapter is from the book

Meta Tags

Finally, you get to do something with the <head> tag. So far, you've only seen the <title> tag used to give information about the document, but you can do a lot more with the <head> tag. What's more, aside from the <title> tag, meta information doesn't usually appear in your document. You can use the meta information tag (<meta>) to identify the page's author, keywords used for searching, or a brief description to appear in search results. You also can use the <meta> tag to give commands to the browser. You can use as many <meta> tags as you like in your page. You'll learn how in the sections that follow.

Improved Searching

Search engines (as you'll find in Lesson 17, "XML and the Future of the Internet") add the content of your Web pages to their indexes. When a potential visitor enters a search phrase, the search engine checks its index to find that word and returns any pages that include that word. It works great. But, what if you were a realtor and you worked hard at creating a Web page that included the words houses, housing, sale, and buy; but didn't include the phrase real estate? If that was the phrase your visitor was looking for, they would never find your page.

You can use the <meta> tag to include product names, geographic locations, industry terms, and synonyms that people might be searching for. There are three <meta> tags that work to help improve your chances of being found by a search engine:

  • Keywords—Keywords are words that you feel people might use to search for your Web page, or synonyms for words in your document.

  • Description—This is usually a paragraph of information about your page. Some search engines use it to describe your page, but other search engines use the first few lines of text in your document.

  • Author—This is your opportunity to shine. Just in case someone is searching for your name, they will find it if you enter that information into the <meta> tag.

Meta information for search engines comes in pairs: name and contents. The following HTML code includes meta information pairs for each of the preceding <meta> tags. Remember, the <meta> tags always appear between the <head> tags.

<!DOCTYPE html
   PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN"
   "DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" 
   xml:lang="en" lang="en">
<head>
<title>Your HTML Page</title>
<meta name="keywords" contents="words that people might 
               use to search for your page." />
<meta name="description" contents="a brief paragraph describing your document." />
<meta name="author" contents="your name" />
</head>
<body>
<p>insert your document here.</p>
</body>
</html>

Refresh and Redirect

There might be times when you want to replace one page with another or want to redirect a link. You might, for example, choose to include a splash page on your Web site. You can use the meta information to force the page to change within a given time span using the sample code that follows:

<meta http-equiv="refresh" content="time in seconds, 
                  new URL" />

Splash Page

The introductory page used by some Web page authors to show flashy graphics or a product logo before continuing to the rest of the site's contents.

If you have a page that you update several times a day and you want to make sure that people always see the most recent version, you can enter the page's own URL in the refresh tag. When the browser sees the refresh tag, it presents the requested URL in the specified time.

<meta http-equiv="refresh" content="time in seconds, 
                  URL for this page" />

Caution

Because not all Web browsers support this attribute, authors should include some content on the splash page that enables users to move to the next page on their own.

Expiration Dates

If you have a page that you change frequently, you can specify an expiration date in the <meta> tag to ensure that the Web browser looks for a newer version (rather than displaying an older version, which might still be stored in the browser's memory). Look at the example that follows:

<meta http-equiv="expires" 
   contents="Wed, 04 July 2001 00:00:00 GMT" />

When you enter the URL for this page in your browser, it checks its history files to see whether a copy is stored there. If so, it checks the meta information to see whether this page is still valid. If the expiration date has passed, the browser looks to the Web for a more recent copy before displaying the page.

Table 3.3 reminds you of the formatting tags you learned in this lesson.

Table 3.3 HTML Tags Used in This Lesson

HTML Tag

Closing

Description of Use

<b>

</b>

Text appears boldface.

<big>

</big>

Text appears one size larger than normal.

<br />

 

Line break. Forces text to the next line.

<em>

</em>

Text appears emphasized (italic). Usually the same as <i>.

<h1>

</h1>

A first-level heading.

<h2>

</h2>

A second-level heading.

<h3>

</h3>

A third-level heading.

<h4>

</h4>

A fourth-level heading. Rarely used.

<h5>

</h5>

A fifth-level heading. Rarely used.

<h6>

</h6>

A sixth-level heading. Rarely used.

<i>

</i>

Text appears emphasized (italic).

<meta />

 

Identifies information about the document.

<p>

</p>

Paragraph break. Forces a blank line.

<small>

</small>

Text appears one size smaller than normal.

<strong>

</strong>

Text appears boldface. Same as <b>.

<sub>

</sub>

Text appears in subscript.

<sup>

</sup>

Text appears in superscript.

<tt>

</tt>

Text appears monospaced, as if typed.


In this lesson, you've learned:

  • The <p> tag, or paragraph tag, tells the browser to add a blank line before it displays any text that follows. The <br /> tag moves your text to the next line without adding a blank line.

  • HTML enables you to add emphasis to your text with several predefined formatting tags.

  • Symbols such as +, –, and % require a little computer shorthand to tell the browser how to interpret these symbols. This shorthand begins with an ampersand (&) and ends with a semi- colon (;).

  • You can add other languages to your HTML documents by using the lang attribute on the <html> tag.

  • Meta information for search engines comes in pairs: name and contents, and the <meta /> tags always appear between the <head> tags.

InformIT Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from InformIT and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview


Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information


To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites, develop new products and services, conduct educational research and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@informit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information


Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security


Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children


This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing


Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information


If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out


Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by InformIT. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.informit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information


Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents


California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure


Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links


This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact


Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice


We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020