# HTML face Attribute The `face` attribute of the `` tag was used in older versions of HTML to specify a default font family for all the text within a document. --- ## Deprecation Notice > **IMPORTANT:** The `` tag and its `face` attribute are **deprecated** in HTML 4.01 and are **not supported** in HTML5. Modern web development practices require using CSS for styling text and setting default fonts. --- ## Definition and Usage The `face` attribute defines the default font family for all text in an HTML document that does not have its font explicitly styled otherwise. When specifying multiple font families, they should be separated by commas. The browser will attempt to render the text using the first font in the list. If that font is not installed on the user's system, the browser will fall back to the next font in the list. --- ## Syntax ```html ``` ### Attribute Values | Value | Description | | :--- | :--- | | *font_family* | Specifies the default font family for the document. Multiple fonts can be listed as a fallback system, separated by commas (e.g., `face="verdana, arial, sans-serif"`). | --- ## Browser Support | IE | Firefox | Opera | Chrome | Safari | | :---: | :---: | :---: | :---: | :---: | | Supported (IE 9 & earlier only) | Not Supported | Not Supported | Not Supported | Not Supported | *Note: Only Internet Explorer 9 and earlier versions support the `` tag and its `face` attribute. Modern browsers do not support it.* --- ## Code Examples ### Legacy HTML Example (Deprecated) The following example demonstrates how the `face` attribute was historically used inside the `` section to set the default font to Courier: ```html

This is a header

This is a paragraph

``` --- ## Modern Alternative: CSS Instead of using the obsolete `` tag, you should use the CSS `font-family` property applied to the `` element. This is the standard, cross-browser compatible way to set a default font for your entire webpage. ### Recommended CSS Example Add the following CSS rule inside your `` section or in an external stylesheet: ```html

This is a header

This is a paragraph

``` ### Why CSS is Better: 1. **Separation of Concerns:** Keeps your HTML structure clean and separates content from presentation. 2. **Universal Browser Support:** Supported by all modern and legacy browsers. 3. **Flexibility:** Allows you to easily override the default font for specific elements (like headers or code blocks) using CSS selectors.