Which tag is used to create emphasized text in HTML?

The tag used to create emphasized text in HTML is the <em> tag. When this tag is applied to text, it typically renders the text in italics, suggesting a stressed or emphasized pronunciation. The emphasis on the text can convey importance or draw attention to certain parts of a sentence, making it an essential tool for enhancing the semantics of document content.

The <em> tag also carries semantic meaning beyond just its visual representation; it indicates that the enclosed text should be emphasized in some way, typically in a way that can be understood by assistive technologies, such as screen readers, which may adjust how they convey the text to users. This can enhance accessibility for individuals with disabilities.

While other tags, such as <strong>, indicate stronger emphasis often represented visually as bold text, they serve different semantic purposes. The <italic> and <b> tags do not meaningfully convey the idea of emphasis in the same semantic way that <em> does. The <italic> tag, for example, is not a standard HTML tag, while the <b> tag purely changes the appearance of text to bold without imparting any additional importance or emphasis.