The <ins> tag marks content that has been added into a document — typically shown underlined. It's the counterpart to <del>, and the two are almost always used together.
Syntax
<ins cite="https://example.com/changelog" datetime="2026-08-20">new text</ins>Basic Example
<p>Updated terms: refunds are now available within <del>7</del> <ins>14</ins> days of purchase.</p>Browser output: "7" appears struck through, and "14" appears underlined right after — a clear, self-explanatory "this changed" pattern in a legal or policy document.
How It Works
The browser applies text-decoration: underline by default — visually the same as <u>, which means <ins> content can carry the same "is this a link?" confusion risk if it isn't paired clearly with the deleted text it's replacing.
Important Attributes
| Attribute | Purpose |
|---|---|
cite | A URL explaining the change (not visible to readers) |
datetime | When the content was added, in ISO 8601 format |
Real-World Example
<article>
<h2>Refund Policy</h2>
<p>Refunds are available within <del datetime="2026-07-01">7</del> <ins datetime="2026-08-01">14</ins> days.</p>
</article>A policy page that keeps a visible, dated history of an important change — exactly the kind of transparency <del>/<ins> were designed for.
Common Mistakes
- Using
<ins>alone, without the corresponding<del>, for content that was actually a correction — readers see new text underlined with no context for why - Not distinguishing visually between an
<ins>underline and a real link — consider a background color or icon in addition to underline styling
Best Practices
- Always pair
<ins>with<del>when showing a genuine replacement, not just an addition - Add extra visual distinction beyond underline alone, so
<ins>content doesn't read as a broken link
Accessibility Considerations
Some screen readers announce "insertion start/end." As with <del>, don't rely on styling alone — the surrounding sentence should make the change clear even without any visual cue.
SEO Considerations
No direct ranking effect.
Browser & Modern HTML Notes
Stable, well-supported, and essentially always used alongside <del> in real-world markup.
Mini Practice
- Update the refund-policy example above with a different number and a new
datetime. - Build a "terms updated" notice using
<del>and<ins>together.
