<strike>

Deprecated in HTML5 specifications. Use <s> or <del> instead.

⚠️ DEPRECATED

Definition and Usage

⚠️ obsolete and non-conforming in modern HTML
The <strike> tag is obsolete and non-conforming in modern HTML. Use the <s> tag or <del> tag instead, or use CSS text-decoration: line-through;.

The <strike> tag was used in older versions of HTML to define strikethrough text (text with a line through it).

This tag has been deprecated because it was a purely presentational element with no semantic meaning. Modern HTML emphasizes semantic markup and the separation of content from presentation.

Important: Do not use <strike> in new websites. While some browsers may still render it, it is not part of the HTML5 standard and may not work in future browsers.

Browser support and standards

Browser rendering and modern HTML conformance are different questions. Check the current element reference for the browsers and features your project needs; the older source version table is not a current compatibility guarantee.

Read the MDN element reference

Attributes

The <strike> tag only supported the Global Attributes in HTML when it was in use.

Examples

Old Way (Don't Use)

This is how <strike> was used in old HTML (deprecated):

Deprecated Example
<!-- OLD HTML - DON'T USE THIS -->
<p>This is <strike>incorrect</strike> text.</p>

Modern Way with <s> Tag

Use the <s> tag for text that is no longer accurate or relevant:

Recommended Alternative
<!-- HTML5 - For stylistic strikethrough -->
<p>Regular price: <s>$99.99</s> Sale price: $49.99</p>

Modern Way with <del> Tag

Use the <del> tag for text that has been deleted from a document:

Recommended Alternative
<!-- HTML5 - For deleted content -->
<p>My favorite color is <del>blue</del> <ins>red</ins>.</p>

Using CSS Instead

Apply strikethrough styling with CSS for complete control:

CSS Alternative
<style>
  .strikethrough {
    text-decoration: line-through;
    color: #999;
  }

  .double-strike {
    text-decoration: line-through;
    text-decoration-style: double;
  }
</style>

<p>This is <span class="strikethrough">crossed out</span> text.</p>
<p>This is <span class="double-strike">double strikethrough</span> text.</p>

Price Comparison Example

Common use case showing old and new prices:

Example
<style>
  .old-price {
    text-decoration: line-through;
    color: #999;
    font-size: 0.9em;
  }

  .new-price {
    color: #27ae60;
    font-weight: bold;
    font-size: 1.2em;
  }
</style>

<div class="product">
  <h3>Wireless Headphones</h3>
  <p>
    <span class="old-price">$149.99</span>
    <span class="new-price">$89.99</span>
  </p>
</div>

Document Edit History

Show changes in a document using semantic tags:

Example
<p>
  Meeting scheduled for <del datetime="2025-01-14T10:00">Monday at 10 AM</del>
  <ins datetime="2025-01-14T11:30">Tuesday at 2 PM</ins>.
</p>

Why Was It Deprecated?

No Semantic Meaning: The tag only defined appearance, not meaning
Mixing Content and Presentation: HTML5 separates content (HTML) from presentation (CSS)
Better Alternatives Exist: <s> and <del> provide semantic meaning
Accessibility Issues: Screen readers benefit from semantic tags like <del>
Maintainability: CSS provides more flexible styling options
Standards Compliance: Modern web standards favor semantic HTML

Migration Guide

How to Replace <strike> in Your Code:

Step 1: Determine the Context

Choose the appropriate replacement based on the meaning:

For stylistic strikethrough: Use <s> (e.g., showing old prices)
For deleted content: Use <del> (e.g., tracking document changes)
For pure styling: Use CSS text-decoration: line-through;

Step 2: Replace the Tag

Before (Old HTML)
<strike>This text is crossed out</strike>

After (HTML5)
<!-- Option 1: For no-longer-accurate content -->
<s>This text is crossed out</s>

<!-- Option 2: For deleted content -->
<del>This text is crossed out</del>

<!-- Option 3: Using CSS -->
<span style="text-decoration: line-through;">This text is crossed out</span>

Step 3: Test Your Changes

Verify that the strikethrough appears correctly in all browsers and that screen readers handle the content appropriately.

Strike vs S vs Del: Comparison

Feature	<strike>	<s>	<del>
HTML5 Support	No - Deprecated	Yes - Supported	Yes - Supported
Semantic Meaning	None (presentational only)	No longer accurate/relevant	Deleted from document
Use Case	Don't use	Price changes, outdated info	Document edits, corrections
Accessibility	Poor	Good	Excellent (with datetime)
Attributes	Global only	Global only	cite, datetime
Recommendation	Never use	Use for styling	Use for deletions

Try it Yourself

Modern Alternatives Demo

Here are live examples of the modern alternatives:

Using <s> tag:

Price: ~~$99.99~~ $49.99

Using <del> tag:

My favorite color is ~~blue~~ red.

Using CSS:

This text has strikethrough styling.

🚀 Try in Code Playground

Best Practices

Never Use <strike>: It's deprecated and not part of HTML5
Choose Semantic Tags: Use <s> or <del> based on meaning
Use <del> with <ins>: Show both old and new content for clarity
Add datetime Attribute: Use with <del> to track when changes were made
Consider Accessibility: Semantic tags help screen readers convey meaning
Style with CSS: Use text-decoration for pure visual effects
Update Legacy Code: Replace <strike> in old websites

CSS Text-Decoration Properties

For more control over strikethrough appearance, use CSS:

Advanced CSS Styling
<style>
  .strikethrough-basic {
    text-decoration: line-through;
  }

  .strikethrough-red {
    text-decoration: line-through;
    text-decoration-color: red;
  }

  .strikethrough-thick {
    text-decoration: line-through;
    text-decoration-thickness: 3px;
  }

  .strikethrough-wavy {
    text-decoration: line-through wavy red;
  }

  .strikethrough-double {
    text-decoration: line-through;
    text-decoration-style: double;
  }
</style>

Related Tags

<s>
Use this for stylistic strikethrough
<del>
Use this for deleted content
<ins>
Defines inserted text
<u>
Defines underlined text