The main difference is that <object> supports fallback content, parameters, and is more standards-compliant and accessible, while <embed> is simpler, self-closing, lacks fallback and parameter support, and is less semantic. 2. Use <object> for complex, accessible, and reliable embedding with fallbacks, and <embed> for quick, simple embeds without fallback needs. 3. For modern media, prefer
The main difference between the <object></object>
and <embed></embed>
tags in HTML lies in their purpose, flexibility, and standards compliance when embedding external content like videos, audio, PDFs, or plugins (e.g., Flash).

1. Standardization and Flexibility: <object></object>
vs <embed></embed>
-
<object></object>
is a standard, versatile HTML element designed to embed external resources. It’s part of the official HTML specification and supports fallback content and rich attributes.Example:
<object data="video.mp4" type="video/mp4" width="400" style="max-width:90%"> <p>Your browser doesn't support the object tag.</p> </object>
Key features:
- Supports fallback content (what shows if the object fails to load).
- Can include parameters using
<param>
tags (useful for plugins). - Works with a wide range of media types.
- More semantic and accessible.
<embed>
is a self-closing, simpler tag originally introduced by Netscape and later adopted into HTML5, but it's considered more of a "legacy" or "quick embed" solution.Example:
<embed src="video.mp4" type="video/mp4" width="400" style="max-width:90%">
Key features:
- No closing tag and no fallback content support.
- Simpler syntax — good for quick embeds.
- Less flexible for complex use cases.
- Not as semantic or accessible as
<object>
.
2. Fallback and Browser Support
With
<object>
, you can provide graceful degradation:<object data="flash.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <img src="/static/imghw/default1.png" data-src="fallback.jpg" class="lazy" alt="Fallback image"> <p>Flash is not supported on your device.</p> </object>
If the browser can’t render the object, it shows the inner content.
<embed></embed>
offers no such fallback — if the content fails, nothing appears (unless you wrap it in other elements).
3. When to Use Which?
-
Use
<object></object>
when:- You need fallback content.
- Embedding plugins with parameters.
- Better accessibility and standards compliance matter.
- You're embedding SVGs, PDFs, or interactive content.
-
Use
<embed></embed>
when:- You need a quick, simple way to embed media.
- You're working with legacy code or simple plugins.
- Fallback isn’t a concern.
Note: For modern media (like video or audio), prefer
<video></video>
or<audio></audio>
tags instead of either. They’re more semantic and widely supported.
Summary of Differences
Feature | <object></object> |
<embed></embed> |
---|---|---|
Fallback content | Yes | No |
Closing tag | Required ( ) |
Self-closing |
Parameters support | Yes (via <param> ) |
No |
Standards compliance | High (W3C standard) | Limited (non-standard origins) |
Accessibility | Better | Limited |
Use case | Complex, reliable embedding | Simple, quick embeds |
Basically, <object></object>
is the more robust and future-friendly choice, while <embed></embed>
is simpler but limited. For most modern use cases, <object></object>
is preferred when you’re not using dedicated tags like <video></video>
.
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