<ins> Inserted text
Text that was added to the document. Underlined by default.
<ins> marks text added to a document after it was first published. Browsers underline it.
You will usually see it beside a <del>, showing what replaced the removed text. Its datetime and cite attributes record when and why. Underlining text for looks is not its job.
The ins element definition (opens in a new tab) shares the edits section of the standard with del. Removed text is covered by the del element.
Syntax
<ins datetime="2026-10-22">added text</ins>When to use it
<ins> marks content added after a document was published: an update at the end of a breaking news story, a new clause in a policy, an added agenda item, or the new side of a before-and-after comparison in a document history. When it replaces something, place del right before it.
If the underline is only for looks, use CSS on a span. If the text was always there and you just want it noticed, mark fits better. A plain "Update:" label in text also works when you do not need to record the edit in markup.
Watch the structure. Like del, ins cannot wrap li elements in a list or tr elements in a table; it goes inside the item or cell. The datetime value must be a valid date, optionally with a time, such as 2026-10-22 or 2026-10-22T14:00Z. A value like "22/10/2026" is invalid and will be ignored by tools.
Attributes
| Attribute | What it does |
|---|---|
cite | URL explaining the change. |
datetime | When the text was added. |
Live example
Edit the code and watch the preview.
<ul>
<li><del>Buy milk</del></li>
<li><ins>Buy oat milk</ins></li>
</ul>More examples
Update added to a news story
A news story gets an update after publishing. ins wraps the whole new paragraph and records the time of the edit, and a visible time element tells readers when it was added.
<article>
<h2>Main Street closed for repairs</h2>
<p>Main Street will be closed from 8 am while workers fix a water pipe.</p>
<ins datetime="2026-10-22T14:00Z">
<p><strong>Update, <time datetime="2026-10-22T14:00Z">22 October, 14:00 UTC</time>:</strong> the street has reopened.</p>
</ins>
</article>Diff-style colors
A document history shows the change with colored backgrounds instead of the default underline and strikethrough, a style familiar from code review tools. The words before each change keep the meaning clear without color.
<p>Old: <del style="background:#fdd;text-decoration:none">Open 9 am to 5 pm</del></p>
<p>New: <ins style="background:#dfd;text-decoration:none">Open 8 am to 6 pm</ins></p>Tip: Use it for real additions. Decorative underlines are CSS.
Browser support
ins was added in HTML 4 and is supported by all browsers, underlined by default. The cite and datetime attributes are part of the Living Standard but browsers do not show them, so they mainly help scripts and editing tools.
Accessibility
Screen readers rarely announce ins. If a change is important, say so in text, for example Updated 22 October:. Why an underline color alone is not enough is explained in the W3C note Understanding Use of Color (opens in a new tab).
Common mistakes
Wrong
<ins>Click here</ins>Right
<a href="/more">Click here</a>ins marks a document edit. Underlined styling is a CSS job.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ins tag used for?
It marks content added to a document after the original version, such as an update to a news article or a correction in a legal text. <ins> pairs with <del> to show what was replaced. Its datetime attribute records when the change happened, and cite links to an explanation.
How do I remove the underline from ins?
With CSS. Browsers underline <ins> by default, and readers can mistake it for a link. A rule such as ins{text-decoration:none;background:#e6ffe6} highlights additions in a way that does not look clickable. Keep the color contrast readable, and do not let color alone signal that text was added.