# HTML5 Audio

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HTML5 provides a standard for playing audio files.

## Audio on the Web

Before HTML5, there was no standard for playing audio files on a web page.

Before HTML5, audio files could only be played with a plug-in (like flash).

The HTML5 <audio> element specifies a standard way to embed audio in a web page.

## Browser Support

Internet Explorer 9+, Firefox, Opera, Chrome, and Safari support the <audio> element.

Note: Internet Explorer 8 and earlier versions, do not support the <audio> element.

## The HTML <audio> Element

To play an audio file in HTML, use the <audio> element:

## Example

<audio controls>
<source src="horse.ogg" type="audio/ogg">
<source src="horse.mp3" type="audio/mpeg">
Your browser does not support the audio element.
</audio>
Try it yourself »

## HTML Audio - How It Works

The controls attribute adds audio controls, like play, pause, and volume.

Text between the <audio> and </audio> tags will display in browsers that do not support the <audio> element.

Multiple <source> elements can link to different audio files. The browser will use the first recognized format.

## HTML Audio - Browser Support

Currently, there are 3 supported file formats for the <audio> element: MP3, Wav, and Ogg:

Browser | MP3 | Wav | Ogg
--- | --- | --- | ---
Internet Explorer | YES | NO | NO
Chrome | YES | YES | YES
Firefox | YES | YES | YES
Safari | YES | YES | NO
Opera | YES | YES | YES

## HTML Audio - Media Types

File Format | Media Type
--- | ---
MP3 | audio/mpeg
Ogg | audio/ogg
Wav | audio/wav

## HTML Audio - Methods, Properties, and Events

HTML5 defines DOM methods, properties, and events for the <audio> element.

This allows you to load, play, and pause audios, as well as setting duration and volume.

There are also DOM events that can notify you when an audio begins to play, is paused, etc.

For a full DOM reference, go to our HTML5 Audio/Video DOM Reference.

## HTML5 Audio Tags

Tag | Description
--- | ---
<audio> | Defines sound content
<source> | Defines multiple media resources for media elements, such as <video> and <audio>

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