HTML <html>
manifest
Attribute
Example
An HTML document with a cache manifest (for offline browsing):
<!DOCTYPE HTML>
<html manifest="demo.appcache">
<head>
<title>Document Title</title>
</head>
<body>
Document content...
</body>
</html>
Browser Support
Internet Explorer 10, Firefox, Opera, Chrome, and Safari support the manifest attribute.
Note: Internet Explorer 9 and earlier versions do not support the manifest attribute.
Definition and Usage
The manifest attribute specifies the location of the document's cache manifest.
HTML5 introduced application caching, which means web applications can be cached and accessed without an internet connection.
Application caching gives the application three advantages:
- Offline browsing - Users can use the application when offline
- Speed - Cached resources load faster
- Reduced server load - The browser only downloads updated/changed resources from the server
The manifest attribute should be included in every page of your web application that you want to cache.
A manifest file is a simple text file that lists the resources the browser should cache for offline access.
To learn more about how to create a manifest file, read our HTML5 Application Cache section.
Differences Between HTML 4.01 and HTML5
The manifest attribute is new in HTML5.
Syntax
Attribute Values
Value | Description |
---|---|
URL | The address of the document's cache manifest. Possible values: Absolute URL - Points to another website (e.g., href="http://www.example.com/demo.appcache")<br>Relative URL - Points to a file within the website (e.g., href="demo.appcache") |