⚠️ Status: Deprecated (Obsolete)
The <bgsound> tag was a non-standard HTML element introduced by Internet Explorer to play background audio automatically when a web page loads.
❌ It is not supported in modern browsers and should not be used in modern websites.
🧪 Syntax
<bgsound src="music.mp3" loop="infinite">
Attributes:
src— path to the sound fileloop— number of times to repeat (use"infinite"or a number)
📌 Example (Old Usage)
<bgsound src="background.mp3" loop="infinite">
This would play background.mp3 automatically and loop it forever (but only in old Internet Explorer versions).
🚫 Why Not Use <bgsound>?
- Not part of HTML5
- Only worked in Internet Explorer
- No support in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge
- Bad for accessibility and user control
✅ Modern Alternative: <audio>
Use the standard HTML5 <audio> tag instead, which works across all modern browsers:
<audio src="background.mp3" autoplay loop hidden></audio>
You can also give users playback controls:
<audio controls>
<source src="background.mp3" type="audio/mpeg">
Your browser does not support the audio element.
</audio>
✅ Summary
| Feature | <bgsound> | <audio> |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | ❌ No (IE only) | ✅ Yes (HTML5) |
| Browser support | Very limited | Full modern support |
| User controls | ❌ No | ✅ Optional |
If you’re working on a retro-themed project or curious about web history, <bgsound> is a fun artifact — but for real projects, always use <audio>.