The <head> HTML element contains machine-readable information (metadata) about the document, like its title,
scripts, and style sheets. Note: <head> primarily holds information for machine processing, not human-readability. For human-visible information, like top-level headings and listed authors, see the
<header> element. This element includes the global attributes. The URIs of one or more metadata profiles, separated by
white space. <!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en-US">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8" />
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width" />
<title>Document title</title>
</head>
</html>
HTML5-compliant browsers automatically create a <head> element if its tags are omitted in the markup. This auto-creation is not guaranteed in ancient browsers. BCD tables only load in the browserAttributes
Example
Notes
Specifications
Specification HTML Standard
# the-head-element
Browser compatibility
See also
\ ˈhed \
1 : the upper or anterior division of the animal body that contains the brain, the chief sense organs, and the mouth nodded his head in agreement
2a : the seat of the intellect : mind two heads are better than one
b : a person with respect to mental qualities let wiser heads prevail
c : natural aptitude or talent a good head for figures
d : mental or emotional control : poise a level head
3 : the obverse (see obverse entry 2 sense 1) of a coin —usually used in plural call heads or tails
b plural head : one of a number (as of domestic animals) sold twenty head of cattle
5a : the end that is upper or higher or opposite the foot the head of the table head of a sail
b : the source of a stream or river the head of the Nile
c : either end of something (such as a drum) whose two ends need not be distinguished
b : one in charge of a division or department in an office or institution the head of the English department met with the other department heads
b : the foliaged part of a plant especially when consisting of a compact mass of leaves, flowers, or fruit a head of lettuce a single head of grain
8a : the leading element of a military column or a procession
b : headway often she had to fight for her head as the press of sail buried her bow— C. V. Reilly
9a : the uppermost extremity or projecting part of an object : top the head of a bolt
b : the striking part of a weapon, tool, or implement the head of an ax
c : the rounded proximal end of a long bone (such as the humerus)
d : the end of a muscle nearest the origin
e : the oval part of a printed musical note
10a : a body of water kept in reserve at a height also : the containing bank, dam, or wall
b : a mass of water in motion (as in a rip current)
11a : the difference in elevation between two points in a body of fluid
b : the resulting pressure of the fluid at the lower point expressible as this height broadly : pressure of a fluid an engine with a full head of steam
12a : the bow and adjacent parts of a ship
13 : the approximate length of the head of a horse won by a head
14 : the place of leadership, honor, or command at the head of her class
15a(1) : a word or series of words often in larger letters placed at the beginning of a passage or at the top of a page in order to introduce or categorize
(2) : a separate part or topic heads of a sermon
b : a portion of a page or sheet that is above the first line of printing
16 : the foam or scum that rises on a fermenting or effervescing liquid (such as beer)
17a : the part of a boil, pimple, or abscess at which it is likely to break
b : culminating point of action : crisis events came to a head
18a : a part or attachment of a machine or machine tool containing a device (such as a cutter or drill) turret head of a lathe also : the part of an apparatus that performs the chief function or a particular function a drill head
b magnetic recording : an electromagnet used as a transducer for recording on, reading, or erasing a magnetic medium (such as tape or a disk)
19 grammar : an immediate constituent of a construction that can have the same grammatical function as the whole (such as man in "an old man," "a very old man," or "the man in the street")
20a : one who uses a drug —often used in combination pothead
b : a devoted enthusiast : aficionado —often used in combination computerhead
by the head
: drawing the greater depth of water forward
off one's head
out of one's head
: delirious Her parents were out of their heads with worry.
over one's head
1 : beyond one's comprehension or competence the most awful intellectual detail, all of it over my head— E. B. White
2 : so as to pass over one's superior standing or authority went over my head to complain
1 : of, relating to, or intended for the upper or anterior division of the animal body that contains the brain, the chief sense organs, and the mouth : of, relating to, or intended for the head (see head entry 1 sense 1) head injuries
3 : located at the end that is upper or higher : situated at the head (see head entry 1 sense 5a) head sails
4 : coming from in front head sea
transitive verb
2a : to put the striking part of a weapon, tool, or implement on : fit a head (see head entry 1 sense 9b) to head an arrow
b : to form the uppermost extremity or projecting part of : to form the head or top of tower headed by a spire
3 : to act as leader or director of : to act as head (see head entry 1 sense 6) to head a revolt
4a : to get in front of so as to hinder, stop, or turn back head a herd of cattle
b : to take a lead over (as in a race) : surpass
c : to pass (a stream) by going round above the source
5a : to place something at the beginning or top of (something) in order to introduce or categorize : to put something at the head of (something, as a list) Each page was headed with the writer's name.
b : to stand as the first or leading member of heads the list of heroes
6 : to set the course of head a ship northward
7 : to hit and propel (something, such as a soccer ball) with the head (see head entry 1 sense 1) headed the ball into the goal
intransitive verb
1 : to form a compact mass of leaves or fruit : to form a head (see head entry 1 sense 7b) This type of cabbage heads early.
2 : to point or proceed in a certain direction headed south
3 : to have a source : originate The river heads in those mountains.