`<ruby>` HTML ruby annotation element

Baseline Widely available

This feature is well established and works across many devices and browser versions. It’s been available across browsers since July 2015.

See full compatibility

The <ruby> HTML element represents small annotations that are rendered above, below, or next to base text, usually used for showing the pronunciation of East Asian characters. It can also be used for annotating other kinds of text, but this usage is less common.

The term ruby originated as a unit of measurement used by typesetters, representing the smallest size that text can be printed on newsprint while remaining legible.

Try it

<ruby> 明日 <rp>(</rp><rt>Ashita</rt><rp>)</rp> </ruby>

ruby {
  font-size: 2em;
}

Attributes

This element only includes the global attributes.

Examples

Example 1: Character

html

<ruby>
  漢 <rp>(</rp><rt>Kan</rt><rp>)</rp> 字 <rp>(</rp><rt>ji</rt><rp>)</rp>
</ruby>

Result

Example 2: Word

html

<ruby> 明日 <rp>(</rp><rt>Ashita</rt><rp>)</rp> </ruby>

Result

Technical summary

Content categories	Flow content, phrasing content, palpable content.
Permitted content	One or more groups, each consisting of two parts: The base text, which is either: Phrasing content, but with no `<ruby>` elements and with no `<ruby>` element descendants, or A single `<ruby>` element that itself has no `<ruby>` element descendants. The annotations for the base text, which is either: One or more `<rt>` elements, or An `<rp>` element followed by one or more `<rt>` elements, each of which is itself followed by an `<rp>` element (that is, `rp, rt, rp, rt, ..., rp`).
Tag omission	None, both the starting and ending tag are mandatory.
Permitted parents	Any element that accepts phrasing content.
Implicit ARIA role	No corresponding role
Permitted ARIA roles	Any
DOM interface	`HTMLElement`

Specifications

Specification
HTML # the-ruby-element

Browser compatibility

	desktop					mobile
	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Opera	Safari	Chrome Android	Firefox for Android	Opera Android	Safari on iOS	Samsung Internet	WebView Android	WebView on iOS
`ruby`	Chrome – Full support Chrome 5 (Release date: 2010-05-25) footnote Full support	Edge – Full support Edge 12 (Release date: 2015-07-29) footnote Full support	Firefox – Full support Firefox 38 (Release date: 2015-05-12) footnote Full support	Opera – Full support Opera 15 (Release date: 2013-07-02) footnote Full support	Safari – Full support Safari 5 (Release date: 2010-06-07) footnote Full support	Chrome Android – Full support Chrome Android 18 (Release date: 2012-06-27) footnote Full support	Firefox for Android – Full support Firefox for Android 38 (Release date: 2015-05-12) footnote Full support	Opera Android – Full support Opera Android 14 (Release date: 2013-05-21) footnote Full support	Safari on iOS – Full support Safari on iOS 4.2 (Release date: 2010-11-22) footnote Full support	Samsung Internet – Full support Samsung Internet 1 (Release date: 2013-04-27) footnote Full support	WebView Android – Full support WebView Android 4.4 (Release date: 2013-12-09) footnote Full support	WebView on iOS – Full support WebView on iOS 4.2 (Release date: 2010-11-22) footnote Full support

Tip: you can click/tap on a cell for more information.

Full support: Full support

<ruby> HTML ruby annotation element

Result

Result

Legend

`<ruby>` HTML ruby annotation element