<embed>
The <embed> element places external content inside a document, historically for plugins or specialized media viewers. Modern usage is narrower because other embedding options are often safer and more predictable.
Overview
The <embed> element places external content inside a document, historically for plugins or specialized media viewers. Modern usage is narrower because other embedding options are often safer and more predictable.
Browser support
| Feature | Desktop | Mobile | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chrome | Edge | Firefox | Safari | Chrome Android | Safari iOS | |
| 1 | 12 | 1 | ≤4 | 18 | ≤3.2 | |
| HTML attribute | ||||||
height | 1 | 12 | 1 | ≤4 | 18 | ≤3.2 |
src | 1 | 12 | 1 | ≤4 | 18 | ≤3.2 |
type | 1 | 79 | 1 | ≤4 | 18 | ≤3.2 |
width | 1 | 12 | 1 | ≤4 | 18 | ≤3.2 |
| DOM API | ||||||
| The HTMLEmbedElement interface provides special properties (beyond the regular HTMLElement interface it also has available to it by inheritance) for manipulating embed elements. | 1 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 1 |
| The getSVGDocument() method of the HTMLEmbedElement interface returns the Document object of the embedded SVG. | 1 | 12 | 1.5 | 3 | 18 | 1 |
| The height property of the HTMLEmbedElement interface returns a string that reflects the height attribute of the embed element, indicating the displayed height of the resource in CSS pixels. | 1 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 1 |
| The src property of the HTMLEmbedElement interface returns a string that indicates the URL of the resource being embedded. | 1 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 1 |
| The type property of the HTMLEmbedElement interface returns a string that reflects the type attribute of the embed element, indicating the MIME type of the resource. It reflects the embed element's type attribute | 1 | 79 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 1 |
| The width property of the HTMLEmbedElement interface returns a string that reflects the width attribute of the embed element, indicating the displayed width of the resource in CSS pixels. | 1 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 1 |
- Starting with Chrome 58, this interface can no longer be called as a function.
- Starting with Chrome Android 58, this interface can no longer be called as a function.
Syntax
<embed src="document.pdf" type="application/pdf"
width="600" height="400">Use cases
Specialized document viewers
Embed a format that has no better native element and still needs inline presentation.
Legacy integrations
Maintain older embedded content while planning a migration toward more standard markup.
Cautions
- Embedded external content can behave inconsistently across devices and may offer poor integration with the surrounding page.
- Do not reach for embed when a more semantic or better-supported element already exists.
Accessibility
- Always provide fallback access to the same resource because embedded viewers may not expose usable semantics.
- If the embedded content is essential, confirm that keyboard access and reading support are available in practice.
Related links
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