The HTML <small> tag
The HTML <small> element represents side comments and small print — disclaimers, copyright notices, terms and legal text. It renders in a smaller font, but it conveys meaning; for merely smaller text, use CSS font-size.
Overview
The <small> element marks up the "fine print" — copyright lines, legal disclaimers, attribution, license notes, and brief side comments. It is semantic: it says "this is small print," which is different from simply making text smaller.
Browsers do render its contents at a reduced size, but the meaning is the point. For a purely visual size change with no "small print" connotation, the CSS font-size property is the correct tool. Keep <small> for genuine side comments and legalese, and make sure the reduced text still meets readable contrast and size for accessibility.
Syntax
<p><small>© 2026 CodeShack. All rights reserved.</small></p>Example
<p>Price: £9.99 <small>(excl. VAT)</small></p>Best practices
- Use
<small>for actual small print — copyright, disclaimers, attribution, side comments. - For a purely visual size change, set the CSS font-size instead.
- Keep the text legible — do not shrink it below a comfortable, accessible size.
- It is for short runs of text, not for shrinking large blocks of content.