## HTML `
` scheme Attribute
The `scheme` attribute of the `
` tag is used to specify a context, format, or URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) that defines how the value of the `content` attribute should be interpreted or translated.
---
## Introduction
In HTML, the `
` tag provides metadata about the HTML document. When you use the `name` and `content` attributes to define metadata (such as a date or an identifier), the `scheme` attribute can be added to provide a specific format or schema for that content. This helps search engines, browsers, and other user agents parse the metadata accurately.
> ⚠️ **Important Note:** The `scheme` attribute is **deprecated** in HTML5. Modern web standards recommend alternative methods for defining structured data, which are discussed in the (#modern-alternatives) section below.
---
## Browser Support
| Attribute | Chrome | Edge/IE | Firefox | Safari | Opera |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **`scheme`** | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
*Note: While all major browsers historically supported this attribute, it has been obsolete since the introduction of HTML5.*
---
## Syntax
```html
```
### Attribute Values
| Value | Description |
| :--- | :--- |
| **`format`** | A text string defining the format of the `content` attribute (e.g., `"YYYY-MM-DD"`). |
| **`URI`** | A Uniform Resource Identifier pointing to a profile or schema definition that explains the format of the `content` attribute. |
---
## Code Examples
### Example 1: Defining a Date Format
In this example, the `scheme` attribute specifies that the date in the `content` attribute follows the `YYYY-MM-DD` format.
```html
Meta Scheme Example
The metadata of this document contains a formatted date.
```
### Example 2: Defining an Identifier Schema
In this example, the `scheme` attribute specifies that the identifier in the `content` attribute is an ISBN (International Standard Book Number).
```html
Meta Scheme ISBN Example
The metadata of this document contains an ISBN identifier.
```
---
## Modern Alternatives
Since the `scheme` attribute is not supported in HTML5, you should avoid using it in modern web development. Instead, use the following industry-standard alternatives to represent structured metadata:
### 1. JSON-LD (Recommended)
JSON-LD (JavaScript Object Notation for Linked Data) is the recommended format by Google and the W3C for structured data. It uses a `
```
### 2. Microdata (Schema.org)
Microdata allows you to nest structured metadata directly within your existing HTML elements using attributes like `itemscope`, `itemtype`, and `itemprop`.
```html
Example Book Title
```
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