The <PLAINTEXT> element was designated as obsolete in the HTML 4.0 specification, which makes it likely that browsers will stop supporting it. It is recommended that for new documents, <PRE> be used instead.
The <PLAINTEXT> element can be used to represent formatted text. As such, it is similar to the <XMP> and <LISTING> element. However, the <PLAINTEXT> element should be an open element, with no closing element. Only Netscape supports this element. Internet Explorer and Mosaic will both allow the use of a </PLAINTEXT> closing element. Netscape and Internet Explorer 4.0 will treat the closing element literally and display it, with the rest of the document being displayed literally as well.
Typically, it will render as fixed width font with white space separating it from other text.
Anything following the opening <PLAINTEXT> element should be treated as text. Netscape (3.0 and above) and Internet Explorer (4.0 and above) behave like this. Older versions of Internet Explorer and all versions of Mosaic will allow the use of a closing </PLAINTEXT> element, allowing discrete blocks of <PLAINTEXT> formatted text to be displayed.
TITLE="informational ToolTip"
The Internet Explorer 4.0 (and above) specific TITLE attribute is used for informational purposes. If present, the value of the TITLE attribute is presented as a ToolTip when the users mouse hovers over the <PLAINTEXT> section.
LANG="language setting"
The LANG attribute can be used to specify what language the <PLAINTEXT> element is using. It accepts any valid ISO standard language abbreviation (for example "en" for English, "de" for German etc.)
LANGUAGE="Scripting language"
The LANGUAGE attribute can be used to expressly specify which scripting language Internet Explorer 4.0 uses to interpret any scripting information used in the <PLAINTEXT> element. It can accept values of vbscript, vbs, javascript or jscript. The first two specify the scripting language as Visual Basic Script, the latter two specify it as using Javascript (the default scripting language used if no LANGUAGE attribute is set.
CLASS="Style Sheet class name"
The CLASS attribute is used to specify the <PLAINTEXT> as using a particular style sheet class.
STYLE="In line style setting"
As well as using previously defined style sheet settings, the <PLAINTEXT> element can have in-line stylings attached to it.
ID="Unique element identifier"
The ID attribute can be used to either reference a unique style sheet identifier, or to provide a unique name for the <PLAINTEXT> element for scripting purposes. Any <PLAINTEXT> element with an ID attribute can be directly manipulated in script by referencing its ID attribute.