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`<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.

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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

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This page was last modified on Nov 10, 2026 by MDN contributors.

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