<figcaption>: The FIGCAPTION Element
Last updated: 2026-10-13
<figcaption>The FIGCAPTION Element
Provides a caption for a figure; must be the first or last child of its figure element.
| Category | Semantic |
|---|---|
| Content Model | Only as first/last child of figure |
| Allowed Parents | Any element that accepts flow content |
| Content Tag | Yes — requires closing </figcaption> tag |
| Status | Standard |
📝 Syntax
<figcaption>caption</figcaption>▶ Example
Edit the code below and see the live result in the playground:
🌐 Browser Support
| Browser |  Chrome |
 Edge |
 Firefox |
 Safari |
 Opera |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| <figcaption> | ✓ v1 | ✓ v12 | ✓ v1 | ✓ v1 | ✓ v1 |
| Supported in all major browsers | |||||
Tip： figcaption only appears inside figure; omit it for purely decorative images.
❓ FAQ
QMust figcaption be the first or last child of figure?
AYes, the spec requires
<figcaption> to be the first or last child of <figure>. It serves as the caption text, joining the image, code, or table into one captioned unit.QIs a figure without figcaption valid?
AYes.
<figcaption> is optional; <figure> itself already means a self-contained referenceable unit and needs no caption. But when the content needs explanation, add one — it helps SEO and accessibility alike.QHow does figcaption differ from the img alt attribute?
A
alt is the replacement text shown when the image fails and the core information for screen readers — keep it concise; <figcaption> is visible caption text that can be longer and more detailed. They complement each other: alt says what the image is, figcaption says why it is here.🏷️ Related Tags
💡 Related Cases
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📚 Related Tutorials
