Low impactContent

Missing lang Attribute on <html>

Without a lang attribute, screen readers and translators can't tell what language your page is in.

What it means

The <html lang='en'> attribute declares the page's primary language to browsers, screen readers, and translation services.

Why it matters

Accessibility tools rely on lang to choose pronunciation rules. Google uses it as a hint for language targeting.

How to fix it

  1. Add a lang attribute to <html>, e.g. <html lang='en'>.
  2. Use ISO 639-1 codes (en, fr, es) optionally with region (en-US, en-GB).

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Frequently asked questions

Does lang affect SEO?

Indirectly, it's a weak language hint to Google, but a strong accessibility signal.