References

Beginner-friendly references for web development, with live, editable examples.

The HTML <ins> tag

Element All modern browsers Updated
Quick answer

The HTML <ins> element marks text that has been inserted into a document (an edit/revision), usually rendered underlined. Record details with cite and datetime; it is the counterpart to <del>.

Overview

The <ins> element represents content that has been added in a revision of the document — the counterpart to <del>. Browsers underline it by default to show it is newly inserted.

As with <del>, you can document the change using the datetime attribute (when the insertion was made) and the cite attribute (a URL explaining why). The two elements are usually used together to present an edit.

One thing to manage: because underlined text can be mistaken for a link, consider restyling <ins> with CSS — a different color or background often reads more clearly as "added" than an underline does. Add an accessible cue where the insertion carries important meaning.

Syntax

<p>Price: <del>£20</del> <ins>£15</ins></p>

Attributes

The <ins> element supports the following attributes, in addition to the global attributes available to every HTML element.

Attribute Value Description
cite A URL. Cites the source URL of a quote or edit.
datetime A valid date/time string, e.g. 2026-06-22, 14:30 or 2026-06-22T14:30. Gives a machine-readable date/time.

Example

Live example 
<p>The total is <del>$50</del> <ins>$40</ins> after the discount.</p>

Best practices

  • Use <ins> for content added in a document revision.
  • Pair it with <del> to show the corresponding deletions.
  • Document the change with the datetime and cite attributes.
  • Restyle the default underline with CSS so it is not mistaken for a link.

Frequently asked questions

What is the ins element for?
To mark content inserted into the document in a revision — the counterpart to <del>.
Why is ins underlined?
Browsers underline it by default to indicate inserted content. Since underlines can look like links, restyling it with CSS is often clearer.
How do I document when content was inserted?
Use the datetime attribute for the time and the cite attribute (a URL) for the reason.
What element marks deleted content?
<del>, the partner of <ins>.
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