What is the functionality of the icon `<i>` in Twitter Bootstrap?

After adding an icon to a webpage, I noticed that it replaced the old, semi-deprecated <i> tag and instead used a customized image tag. It almost seems like <i ...> is just a simpler version of <img ...>.

I'm curious about how this functionality is achieved with just a stylesheet. Can other tags be overridden in the same way for different purposes?

Answer №1

[class^="icon-"],
[class*=" icon-"] {
  display: inline-block;
  width: 14px;
  height: 14px;
  line-height: 14px;
  vertical-align: text-top;
  background-image: url("../img/glyphicons-halflings.png");
  background-position: 14px 14px;
  background-repeat: no-repeat;
  *margin-right: .3em;
}

It's interesting to note that the choice of using the i tag here seems arbitrary, possibly due to its deprecation. The use of an image tag wouldn't be suitable in this scenario since a sprite sheet is being used instead...

.icon-glass {
  background-position: 0      0;
}

Answer №2

Twitter bootstrap is utilizing empty <i> elements in their example markup for CSS Sprites. The choice of tag isn't crucial, but HTML5 has given significance to <i> and <b> elements, providing them with new meanings:

http://www.w3.org/TR/html5/the-i-element.html

The i element signifies a span of text conveyed in an altered voice or mood, or set apart from ordinary prose to convey distinct textual qualities, such as a taxonomic label, a specialized term, a foreign language idiom, a thought, or the name of a ship in Western literature.

An absence of content within elements typically indicates less-than-ideal semantic structure, yet many opt for pragmatism over perfection. It could be argued that the icons are more about presentation than actual content, making <img> potentially unsuitable while background images prove more efficient (and reduce HTTP requests).

If you're inclined towards meticulousness as I am on occasion, consider adding some text:

<span class="icon icon-ok">OK</span>

Subsequently, utilize CSS to conceal the text using a technique like text-indent:-999px (which Bootstrap likely already implements). Essentially, it's transformed into a block element with fixed dimensions and a background image.

Answer №3

The "i" tag isn't a shortcut for an icon; it's meant for italicizing text in HTML4, with a slightly different purpose in HTML5. Unfortunately, Bootstrap and some developers prioritize speed over quality or semantics and misuse this tag.

Using empty tags is incorrect from a semantic standpoint. The "i" has no association with icons.

It's worth noting that employing text indent to conceal text isn't accessible, so avoid doing so at all costs.

Answer №4

Don't get caught up on the specific tag, focus on the class instead. Consider using

<span class="icon-help></span>
or another option.

<i> is a quicker alternative and can represent an icon as well.

Answer №5

Think of a tag as a label. While you can assign any tag to anything you'd like, it's best practice to choose tags that accurately represent the content they are labeling. Although the <i> tag is not commonly used anymore, it's still a reliable choice for Twitter Bootstrap to ensure its purpose is clear and won't be replaced by another element.

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