👀 Live Preview
Modern inline script (no deprecated language attribute):
This uses <script> without language—the HTML5 default.
HTML language Attribute
Overview
Introduction
The language attribute was historically used on <script> elements to name the scripting language (for example language="javascript"). In HTML5 it is obsolete and deprecated. Modern pages use plain <script> tags or the type attribute instead. Do not confuse this with the lang attribute, which declares the human language of page content on <html> and other elements.
What You’ll Learn
<script> Only
Legacy script tag.
Deprecated
Obsolete in HTML5.
language vs lang
Script vs content.
Modern type
What to use today.
Legacy Values
javascript, VBScript.
Migration
Remove from new code.
Fundamentals
Purpose of language
The original purpose of the language attribute was to tell the browser which scripting engine should run inline code inside a <script> element—JavaScript, VBScript, or other legacy languages. In early HTML, before standardized MIME types, authors wrote <script language="JavaScript"> so browsers knew how to interpret the block.
HTML5 made JavaScript the default script language and marked the language attribute as obsolete. Browsers no longer rely on it; they execute script blocks as JavaScript regardless. You may still see the attribute in old tutorials or legacy pages, which is why it belongs in an attributes reference.
Not for document language
To declare that your page is in English or Spanish, use lang on <html> (e.g. <html lang="en">), not language. The old reference sometimes mixed these up—they are completely different attributes.
Foundation
📝 Syntax
Legacy syntax on a <script> element (shown for recognition only—do not use in new projects):
language-legacy.html
<script language="javascript">
alert("This script uses the deprecated language attribute!");
</script>Modern equivalent:
script-modern.html
<script>
alert("Modern scripts omit language entirely.");
</script>Syntax Rules
- Historically valid on
<script>(and sometimes<style>in very old markup). - Value was a free-form string naming the script language (e.g.
javascript,JavaScript 1.2). - Case-insensitive in practice;
JavaScriptandjavascriptwere both common. - Obsolete in HTML5—validators flag it; omit it in new code.
- Use
type="text/javascript"only if you need an explicit MIME type; default is JavaScript. - For page human language, use
lang, notlanguage.
Reference
💎 Values
The language attribute accepted a string naming the scripting language. Common legacy values included:
javascriptorJavaScript— ECMAScript / JavaScript (most common).JavaScript 1.1,JavaScript 1.2, etc. — Version hints (ignored by modern browsers).livescript— Early Netscape name for JavaScript.vbscriptorVBScript— Microsoft VBScript (IE-era; unsupported in modern browsers).jscript— Microsoft’s JavaScript variant name.
Dynamically setting the attribute (legacy pattern—avoid in new code):
language-js.html
var script = document.createElement("script");
script.setAttribute("language", "javascript"); // deprecated
script.textContent = "alert('legacy pattern');";Cheat Sheet
⚡ Quick Reference
| Use Case | Legacy (avoid) | Modern replacement |
|---|---|---|
| Inline JavaScript | <script language="javascript"> | <script> |
| Explicit MIME type | language="javascript" | type="text/javascript" |
| External script | language + src | <script src="..."> |
| Page in English | language="en" ❌ | <html lang="en"> |
| Module script | N/A | <script type="module"> |
| JSON data block | N/A | <script type="application/json"> |
Scope
Applicable Elements
| Element / Context | Supported? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
<script> | Obsolete | Original and primary use; ignored by HTML5 |
<html> | No | Use lang for document language |
<style> | Never standard | Some very old pages used it; invalid today |
| Any other element | No | Not a global attribute |
Compare
language vs lang vs type
| Feature | language | lang | type on script |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status | Deprecated | Standard | Standard |
| Used on | <script> (legacy) | Any element | <script> |
| Declares | Scripting language name | Human content language | MIME type of script |
| Example | language="javascript" | lang="en" | type="module" |
| Use today? | No | Yes | When needed |
Hands-On
Examples Gallery
Legacy language on script, the modern replacement, and how the attribute was set dynamically in old code.
Example — Legacy Script with language
Historical markup you may encounter when reading older sites:
index.html
<script language="javascript">
alert("This script uses the deprecated language attribute!");
</script>How It Works
In the past, authors added language="javascript" so browsers knew which engine to use. HTML5 standardized JavaScript as the default and deprecated this attribute entirely.
Example — Modern Replacement
Write new scripts without language:
script-modern.html
<script>
alert("Modern scripts omit language.");
</script>
<!-- Optional explicit MIME type -->
<script type="text/javascript" src="app.js"></script>
<!-- ES modules -->
<script type="module" src="main.js"></script>How It Works
The type attribute selects the script kind via MIME type. Omitting both type and language defaults to classic JavaScript execution.
Dynamic Values with JavaScript
Legacy code sometimes created scripts and set language at runtime:
dynamic-language.html
<button id="runScript">Run legacy script</button>
<script>
document.getElementById("runScript").addEventListener("click", function () {
var script = document.createElement("script");
script.setAttribute("language", "javascript"); // deprecated
script.textContent = "alert('Dynamic legacy pattern');";
document.body.appendChild(script);
});
</script>How It Works
Dynamically injected scripts execute as JavaScript by default. The old reference incorrectly described this as changing lang on <html>—that is a different attribute for human language, not script type.
A11y
♿ Accessibility
- Use
langfor accessibility — Screen readers need<html lang="en">, notlanguageon scripts. - Do not put
language="en"on<html>— That is invalid and does not declare document language. - Mark mixed-language content with
lang— On paragraphs and spans, not on script tags. - Script content is not spoken as page language — The
languageattribute never helped assistive tech with page locale. - Remove deprecated attributes during audits — Cleaner markup is easier for tools and developers to understand.
🧠 How language Worked (Legacy)
1
Author adds language on script
e.g. language="javascript".
Legacy
2
Old browsers read hint
Picked script engine.
History
3
HTML5 makes it obsolete
JavaScript is default.
Standard
=
Use <script> or type today
Omit language in new code.
Compatibility
Browser Support
The language attribute is obsolete. Browsers ignore it and run script blocks as JavaScript. It remains parseable in legacy markup but must not appear in new HTML5 documents.
Obsolete · Ignored
Deprecated since HTML5
Scripts execute without it; attribute is a no-op in modern browsers.
0% Recommended use
Google Chrome Ignored (script still runs)
ObsoleteMozilla Firefox Ignored
ObsoleteApple Safari Ignored
ObsoleteMicrosoft Edge Ignored
Obsoletelanguage on <script> Do not use
Bottom line: Recognize it in legacy code; replace with plain <script> or type in new projects.
Pro Tips
💡 Best Practices
✅ Do
- Use plain
<script>for JavaScript in new code - Set document language with
<html lang="..."> - Use
type="module"for ES module scripts - Remove
languagewhen refactoring legacy pages - Link to the lang attribute tutorial for page language
❌ Don’t
- Add
languageto new script tags - Confuse
languagewithlang - Put
language="en"on<html>for English content - Rely on
language="VBScript"(unsupported in modern browsers) - Follow outdated tutorials that call this a document SEO attribute
Wrap Up
Conclusion
The language attribute is a legacy tool for naming the scripting language on <script> elements. It is obsolete in HTML5 and should not be used in new documents.
For JavaScript, use a plain <script> tag or the type attribute. For human page language and accessibility, use lang on <html>. Understanding the difference keeps your markup valid and your internationalization strategy correct.
Summary
Key Takeaways
Knowledge Unlocked
Five truths every developer should know about language
Bookmark these before editing legacy script tags.
5
Core concepts 01
Deprecated
Obsolete in HTML5
Status 02
<script>
Legacy use only
Element 03
Not lang
Different attribute
Compare 04
Use type
Or plain script
Modern 05
Page locale
html lang=...
A11y❓ Frequently Asked Questions
A deprecated attribute on
<script> that named the scripting language (e.g. language="javascript"). HTML5 made it obsolete.No.
lang declares human language of content (<html lang="en">). language on script named the programming language and is deprecated.For scripts: plain
<script>, type="text/javascript", or type="module". For page language: lang on <html>.No. Modern browsers ignore the attribute. Removing it from JavaScript blocks is safe and recommended.
It was required practice in HTML 4 and early tutorials. Those pages were never updated after HTML5 standardized JavaScript as the default script language.
No. Search engines use
lang on content, not the obsolete script language attribute. The old reference incorrectly suggested using language for document SEO.Write modern script tags
Compare legacy language markup with today’s <script> and type patterns in the Try It editor.
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