+++
date    = "2022-11-24T18:32:57+00:00"
lastmod = "2022-11-24T18:33:57+00:00"
tags    = [ "webdev" ]
author  = "tdro"
+++

If you think about it, the {{< abbr HTML "HyperText Markup Language" >}}
[`<abbr>`](https://html.spec.whatwg.org/dev/text-level-semantics.html#the-abbr-element)
tag is not that well thought out. Or rather, inconsistent interpretations of the
title attribute on different displays limits `<abbr>` usefulness.

Sure, conditional
[media types](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/Media_Queries/Using_media_queries#syntax)
allow auto expanding the title on touch or print displays.

But many semantic elements have similar quirks that are only noticeable with a
good cross browser/display testing suite, which no one has
{{< abbr btw "by the way" >}}.

Surprising quirky behaviour `+` real world "get it done now" business constraints
`=` everything's a `<div>` and/or a `<span>`.