Standard: Title Tag
Brief description
(see the full document below for details)
The title tag tells search engines what to show in results; the same text appears in bookmarks.
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Definitions
The <title> tag provides the text used by search engines and in bookmarks as the page title. It appears at the very top of the window, but does not appear in the body of the page.
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Content requirements
- Every HTML or CFML page must include a <title> tag unique to that page.
- For pages other than area home page, the title tag contains exactly three elements that appear in this order (specific to general):
- the name of the page (if helpful to the reader, combine overarching concepts with the literal name of the page)
- the relevant area name
- "US EPA"
- For area home pages, the title tag contains exactly two elements that appear in this order (specific to general):
- the relevant area name
- "US EPA"
- Do not include anything else in the title tag.
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Style requirements
- Use plain language phrases
- Avoid acronyms
- Separate the elements are with " | " - note the space on either side of the | character.
- Use initial capital letters instead of all upper or lower case (except for "US EPA")
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Examples
- Air Programs | Region 9 | US EPA
- Where You Live | Beaches | US EPA
- Frequent Questions | Management of Scrap Tires | US EPA
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Rationale
Title tag text appears in bookmarks and in some search results. Starting with the specific page name helps people decide which page to view. Therefore, no two pages should have exactly the same title tag.
Under the old system of title tags going from general to specific, search results showed "EPA" and the area name repeatedly at the beginning of each entry:
It's much easier to find the page you want when the page name appears first on each line, followed by more general information.
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Related governance documents
EPA
Related Policies
Related Procedures
Related Standards
Related Guidance
Non-EPA
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Full Metadata about this standard
Name Title Tag
Tracking number NT00000000
Type Standard
Required or Recommended Required
Effective date 09/28/2005
Date approved 09/28/2005
Category Area Setup, Page Elements
Web Council review by 09/07/2008 (or earlier if deemed necessary by the Web Council)
Governing Policy Web Governance and Management (PDF) (4 pp, 339K, About PDF)
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