When creating a website, especially on platforms like WordPress, setting the lang attribute in the HTML structure is a practice that might seem minor but has significant implications. This attribute plays a crucial role in accessibility, search engine optimization (SEO), and the overall user experience, making it an essential consideration for developers and content creators alike.
Accessibility
One of the most compelling reasons to correctly set the lang attribute is to enhance accessibility. This attribute helps screen readers and other assistive technologies determine the language of the webpage. When the lang attribute is correctly specified, screen readers can use the appropriate language settings to pronounce words as intended. This is crucial for non-English speakers or websites that cater to a multilingual audience. Without the correct lang attribute, words might be mispronounced, leading to confusion and a subpar browsing experience for users relying on these technologies.
Search Engine Optimization
SEO is another area where the lang attribute plays a vital role. Search engines aim to provide users with the most relevant content, and understanding the language of a webpage helps them deliver more accurate search results. When your WordPress site correctly specifies the webpage’s language, it’s more likely to rank well in searches conducted in that language. This is particularly important for websites targeting specific regional markets. By neglecting the lang attribute, you might miss out on reaching your target audience effectively.
Moreover, Google and other search engines are increasingly focusing on user experience as a ranking factor. A correctly set lang attribute contributes to a better user experience, which can indirectly benefit your site’s SEO performance.
User Experience and Legal Compliance
Beyond accessibility and SEO, specifying the language of your WordPress site using the lang attribute can enhance the overall user experience. For instance, it enables web browsers to automatically offer to translate pages that are in a foreign language. This can be particularly beneficial for websites with an international audience, ensuring that content is accessible and understandable to as many users as possible.
In some regions, there are legal requirements regarding web accessibility. For example, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) require websites to specify the page language using the lang attribute to meet certain accessibility standards. Non-compliance could not only alienate users with disabilities but also lead to legal repercussions.
Implementing the lang Attribute in WordPress
Fortunately, setting the lang attribute in WordPress is straightforward. WordPress automatically adds the lang attribute to your site’s HTML structure based on the language you select during setup or within the settings. However, for a multilingual site, you may need to use additional plugins or custom code to ensure that each page correctly specifies its language, enhancing the site’s accessibility, SEO, and compliance with legal standards.
How to change html lang en-US to en in WordPress – here is the syntax of the HTML lang attribute:
html lang = "language_code"
In the above syntax, language_code is used to specify the ISO language code.
For example, if the content language is English, then the language code should be “en”:
html lang = "en"
Similarly, if the content is in the French language, the language code should be:
html lang = "fr"
Method to change the html language using a function:
Add a filter inside function.php
add_filter( 'language_attributes', 'setLangAttr' );
function setLangAttr() {
return 'lang="en"';
}
Or
Add define inside wp-config.php
define ('WPLANG', 'en');
Or
Download and install this plugin HTML Global lang Attribute.