HTML <figcaption> Tag Tutorial - Usage, Syntax, Attributes, faq and Example

calender-iconPublished: 27 May 2025

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INTRODUCTION

The <figcaption> element is used to to provide a caption or description for content inside a <figure> element. It helps improve accessibility, SEO, and semantic structure.

The <figcaption> element must be placed inside a <figure> tag. It can be positioned before or after the media content.

Example:

<figure>
 <img src="html_logo.png" alt="HTML logo.">
 <figcaption>HTML Logo</figcaption>
<figure>
Output:
HTML logo.
HTML Logo

Attributes

The <figcaption> element only includes global attributes


Tag Omission

The HTML <figcaption> element must have both start tag and end tag.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)

What is the proper way of nesting <figure> and <figcaption> elements?
The <figcaption> should be the first or last child of the <figure> element, providing a caption or description for the content.

Can the <figcaption> element be used without the <figure> element?
No, the <figcaption> element is designed to be used exclusively within a <figure> element and should not be used independently.

Is it mandatory to use a <figcaption> inside every <figure> element?
No, the <figcaption> is optional. It should be included when a caption or description is necessary to provide context to the content within the <figure>.

How does the <figcaption> element differ from the <caption> element?
While both provide captions, <figcaption> is used with the <figure> element for various types of content like images or code snippets, whereas <caption> is specifically used with the <table> element to describe tabular data.

Can the <figcaption> element be styled with CSS?
Yes, the <figcaption> element can be styled using CSS to match the design and layout preferences of the webpage.

What can be included inside a <figcaption>?
The <figcaption> can contain flow content, including headings, paragraphs, links, and other inline or block-level elements, to provide a comprehensive description

Can multiple <figcaption> elements be used within a <figure> element?
No, a <figure> element should contain only one <figcaption> to maintain proper semantic structure.