Table of Contents

Introduction to Making Bold Text in HTML

Making text bold in HTML is a common way to emphasize important content or create a visual hierarchy in your web pages. There are several methods to achieve bold text, each with its own use cases and implications for semantics and accessibility.

Using the <strong> Tag

The <strong> tag is the preferred semantic way to make text bold. It indicates that the enclosed text is of strong importance.

<p>This is <strong>very important</strong> information.</p>

Try it:

Using the <b> Tag

The <b> tag is another way to make text bold, but it's purely presentational and doesn't carry semantic meaning.

<p>This text contains <b>bold formatting</b> for visual emphasis.</p>

Try it:

Making Text Bold with CSS

You can also use CSS to make text bold by setting the font-weight property.

<p style="font-weight: bold;">This entire paragraph is bold using CSS.</p>

Try it:

Using Inline Styles

While generally not recommended for larger projects, you can use inline styles to make specific text bold.

<p>This sentence contains <span style="font-weight: bold;">bold text</span> using an inline style.</p>

Try it:

Semantic Usage

When using bold text, consider the semantic meaning. Use <strong> for important content and <b> or CSS for purely visual styling.

<p><strong>Warning:</strong> This action cannot be undone.</p>
<p>The event will take place on <b>July 15th, 2023</b>.</p>

Accessibility Considerations for Bold Text

When using bold text, ensure that it doesn't rely solely on color or weight to convey meaning. Screen readers will emphasize <strong> content but not <b> tags.

Best Practices

  • Use <strong> for semantically important text
  • Use <b> or CSS for stylistic bold text
  • Avoid overusing bold text as it can lose its emphasis
  • Consider using other methods like headings for structuring content
  • Ensure sufficient contrast between bold and regular text