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HTML Markup: Blinking Text Tags

Originally Published: 2005-02-21
HTML offers older markup created at the height of the browser war of the 1990's in hopes of appealing to advertisers. Although, to readers of those Web pages, these HTML elements quickly became more irritating than appealing; particularly if the Web author used one of these methods to share important information. This article will share about the blinking text markup. (Browser Specific)

During the Browser War, between Netscape and Internet Explorer in the mid-1990s, both sides tried to appeal to advertisers. Internet Explorer offered marquee, or scrolling text, markup and Netscape came up with a blinking text.

Both were created to primarily appeal to advertisements' gaudy and "in your face" side. However, recall, these were introduced during the browser war! Internet Explorer started rolling out markup and scripting (e. g. ActiveX) that would only work in their browser. Netscape joined in and offered a few markups people could use that would only work if the page was viewed in their browser. These tactics between the two sides help explain the archaic warnings of "This site is best viewed in ..." that site owenrs once shared to warn people in advance about which browser to use for viewing the site.

As Web surfers were not interested in switching back and forth between browsers, many of the Netscape users escaped marquee scrolling text and Internet Explorer users didn't have to deal with blinking text greeting their eyes. Advertisers also did not appear to be very interested in these browser-specific tags and used animated images, JavaScript, and - today - Flash that can share scrolling or flashing text more easily.

Marquee is reminescent of stock reports that would scroll along along the bottom of a news screen - and just as distracting to the eye while trying to watch the rest of the screen. Blink, when on a Web page, eerily reminescent of the cliche movie scene where old motel had a blinking 'vacancy' sign that bothered the guests. Oddly, though, neither one of these markups has been placed in the Deprecated or Obsolete categories although they do remain browser-specific in what ones will support them in Web pages.

Blink Markup

<blink>TEXT</blink>
Paired tag; no shortcut.
Inline Element; Browser Specific.
blink is short for Blinking Text
Use: Encloses, or encases, text to give the visual illusion of blinking on and off..
Suggestion: Use sparingly, if at all, as this markup can be distracting to people.
Only works in Netscape. Do not use for important text or large passages due to the blinking appearance that will be given to that text.

Example of markup:
<blink>This text will be what I want to blink on the page.</blink> However the on and off illusion can prove distracting, and sometimes even painful, to people's eyes. The movement, or action, can also draw their attention from bits of other contents offered.

Appearance on the Web (will appear as dark green text):

This text will be what I want to blink on the page. However the on and off illusion can prove distracting, and sometimes even painful, to people's eyes. The movement, or action, can also draw their attention from bits of other contents offered.


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