--- title: HTML lang & xml:lang Match | Accessibility Rule description: HTML elements with lang and xml:lang must have the same base language source_url: html: https://testingbot.com/support/accessibility/web/rules/html-xml-lang-mismatch md: https://testingbot.com/support/accessibility/web/rules/html-xml-lang-mismatch/index.md --- # Ensure that HTML elements with both valid lang and xml:lang attributes agree on the base language of the page Rule ID: html-xml-lang-mismatchUser Impact: moderateGuidelines: WCAG 2.0 To maintain accessibility, the `` element should have matching `lang` and `xml:lang` attributes, both specifying the same primary language of the document. ## About This Rule This rule ensures that the `` element has consistent `lang` and `xml:lang` attributes, both containing valid and identical language codes. Adhering to this practice enhances accessibility for users of assistive technologies by providing clear language declarations. ## Why It Matters Screen readers and other assistive technologies rely on language attributes to determine the correct pronunciation and interpretation of content. Inconsistent or missing language declarations can lead to misinterpretation, making content difficult to understand for users who depend on these technologies. ## How to Fix To ensure consistency: - **Add Matching Language Attributes:** Assign both `lang` and `xml:lang` attributes to the `` element, ensuring they have identical values. For example, for an English document: - **Use Valid Language Codes:** Utilize standard language codes, such as "en" for English, "fr" for French, or more specific codes like "en-US" for American English. A comprehensive list of language codes is available on the [ISO Codes for the Representation of Names of Languages](https://www.loc.gov/standards/iso639-2/php/code_list.php). - **Specify Languages for Sections:** For documents containing multiple languages, apply the `lang` attribute to relevant elements:

This is an English paragraph.

Este es un párrafo en español.

- **Indicate Text Direction for Right-to-Left Languages:** For languages like Arabic or Hebrew, include the `dir` attribute:

نص باللغة العربية هنا

## Other Rules Interested in other web accessibility rules? Please see these other rules: - [image-alt](https://testingbot.com/support/accessibility/web/rules/image-alt) - [input-button-name](https://testingbot.com/support/accessibility/web/rules/input-button-name) - [input-image-alt](https://testingbot.com/support/accessibility/web/rules/input-image-alt) - [label](https://testingbot.com/support/accessibility/web/rules/label) - [link-in-text-block](https://testingbot.com/support/accessibility/web/rules/link-in-text-block)