HTMLScriptTags

HTMLScriptTags refers to the script elements used in HTML to embed or load JavaScript code within web pages. The script element can contain inline code or reference an external script file via the src attribute. When a script tag with a src attribute is encountered, the browser requests the external resource and executes it when loaded; inline script blocks execute immediately as they are parsed.

Common attributes include src for external files; type to specify the MIME type, with text/javascript being common though HTML5 treats JavaScript as the default; defer and async to control loading and execution relative to document parsing; crossorigin for CORS settings; integrity to enable Subresource Integrity checks; referrerpolicy to control sent referrer information; nonce as part of Content Security Policy; and charset for legacy encoding.

Best practices emphasize minimizing render-blocking effects by placing scripts at the end of the body or using defer in the head to delay execution until after parsing. External files are preferred for maintainability and caching, while inline scripts should be used sparingly and only when necessary. When inline scripts are used, consider Content Security Policy and nonce values to reduce security risks; for external resources, enable integrity checks and proper caching strategies.

History and compatibility notes that the script element has been part of HTML since early standards, with HTML5 introducing attributes such as defer and async to enhance loading behavior. The script element is widely supported across modern browsers and remains a fundamental mechanism for adding client-side logic to web pages.