HTML5 Pocket Reference, 5th Edition

Name

audio

Synopsis

<audio> . . . </audio>

Not in HTML 4.01. Embeds a sound file media in the web page without requiring a plug-in. The content of the audio element can be used by agents that don’t support the element. The audio file may be provided with the src attribute. More commonly, because different browsers support different audio formats, a series of file format options are provided with source elements contained in the audio element. Other fallback content may be provided in the audio element for nonsupporting browsers.

There is still debate regarding the supported audio format for the audio element. No file format is supported by all browsers. As of this writing, browser support for available file formats is as follows:

IE 9+ (versions prior to 9 do not support the audio element): MP3, MP4, and WebM

Chrome 5+: MP3, MP4, WAV, Ogg Vorbis, and WebM

Firefox 3.5+: WAV, Ogg Vorbis, and WebM (4+). MP3 and MP4 support will be added to Firefox but only when a third-party decoder is available.

Safari 4+ and Mobile Safari 3+: MP3, MP4, and WAV

Android (2.0+): MP3, WAV, Ogg Vorbis, and WebM (2.3.3+)

Usage

Categories:

Flow content, phrasing content, embedded content, interactive content (if it has a controls attribute), palpable content (if it has a controls attribute)

Permitted contexts:

Where embedded content is expected

Permitted content:

Transparent content, containing either a src attribute or one or more source elements, followed by either flow content or phrasing content. video or audio elements ...