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Glossary of Terms

We have compiled this list of terms and definitions to help you better understand the terminology used within the web development community.

HTML Has Lang

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HTML Has Lang checks whether your page declares what language it is written in. Without this declaration, screen readers may mispronounce words and translation tools may not work correctly. Adding a language attribute to your page is a quick fix that helps both accessibility and search engines.

HTML Has Lang

The lang attribute on the <html> element tells browsers, screen readers, and translation tools what language your page is written in. Without it, these tools have to guess — and they often guess wrong. A screen reader might try to read English text with French pronunciation rules, producing a garbled mess. Adding lang="en" to your <html> tag takes five seconds and solves this problem completely.

Why It Matters

  • Screen readers need it for correct pronunciation. A screen reader uses the lang attribute to choose the right voice and pronunciation rules. Without it, English text might be read with a German accent — or worse, become completely unintelligible.
  • Translation tools depend on it. Browser-based translation features use the declared language to determine what language the page is written in before translating. Without the lang attribute, auto-translation may not work at all or may choose the wrong source language.
  • It helps search engines categorize your content. While search engines can usually detect language from the text itself, a declared lang attribute provides an explicit signal that reinforces their detection.
  • It is required for accessibility compliance. Web accessibility guidelines explicitly require the lang attribute on the <html> element. Missing it is a basic compliance failure.

How to Add It

  1. Add the lang attribute to your <html> tag. Change <html> to <html lang="en"> (or whatever your page's primary language is). That is the entire fix.
  2. Use the correct language code. Language codes follow ISO 639-1: en for English, fr for French, de for German, es for Spanish, ja for Japanese, and so on.
  3. Add region codes when relevant. If your content targets a specific region, add it: lang="en-US" for American English, lang="pt-BR" for Brazilian Portuguese. This gives screen readers even more precise pronunciation guidance.
  4. Use the lang attribute on inline content too. If a paragraph in your English page contains a French phrase, wrap it in <span lang="fr">bon appétit</span> so screen readers switch pronunciation for that phrase.
  5. Check every page template. Make sure the lang attribute is set in your base template or layout file so it applies to all pages, not just specific ones.

Common Mistakes

  • Omitting it entirely. The most common mistake is simply not having a lang attribute at all. Many templates ship without one, and developers do not notice because the page renders fine visually.
  • Using the wrong language code. Setting lang="us" instead of lang="en" is a common error. Country codes and language codes are different — us is a country, en is a language.
  • Setting one language for a multilingual page. If your page mixes languages significantly, the <html lang> should reflect the primary language, with lang attributes on inline elements for other languages.
  • Hardcoding the wrong language in a CMS. Some CMS installations default to a language that does not match the actual content. Check that your CMS configuration sets the correct language for each site.
Bottom Line: Add lang="en" (or your content's language) to every page's <html> tag. It takes five seconds, fixes screen reader pronunciation, enables translation tools, and satisfies accessibility requirements.
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Synonyms: Lang Attribute, Page Language

What Does "Liquid Purple" mean?

noun | / LIK-wid PUR-pul /

  1. (biochemistry) Also known as visual purple or rhodopsin — a light-sensitive receptor protein found in the rods of the retina. It enables vision in dim light by transforming invisible darkness into visible form. Derived from the Greek rhódon (rose) and ópsis (sight), its name reflects its delicate pink hue and vital role in perception.

  2. (modern usage) Liquid Purple — a digital marketing agency specializing in uncovering unseen opportunities and illuminating brands hidden in the digital dark. Much like its biological namesake, Liquid Purple transforms faint signals into clear visibility — revealing what others overlook and bringing businesses into the light.

Origin: From the scientific term rhodopsin, discovered by Franz Christian Boll in 1876; adopted metaphorically by a marketing firm dedicated to visual clarity in the age of algorithms.

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For over 20 years, Liquid Purple has been headquartered in the heart of Southern California, serving clients across Irvine, Newport Beach, Anaheim, and the greater Los Angeles area. While we are proud of our local roots, our digital reach extends far beyond our local area. We support businesses in major hubs like Denver, Dallas, New York, and Miami, as well as international clients. Our ability to operate across time zones means you can often wake up to completed tasks and progress updates—keeping your business moving while you sleep.