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 according to any HTML specification. Internet Explorer and Mosaic will both allow the use of a </PLAINTEXT> closing element. Netscape will treat the closing element literally and display it.
Typically, it will render as fixed width font with white space separating it from other text.
e.g.
I live<PLAINTEXT>in the rainiest part of the world.
Would render as:
I live
<![CDATA[in the rainiest part of the world.</PLAINTEXT>
<P>As said above, anything following the opening <CODE><PLAINTEXT></CODE> element should be treated as text. Only <STRONG>Netscape</STRONG> behaves like this. <STRONG>Internet Explorer</STRONG> and <STRONG>Mosaic</STRONG> will allow the use of a closing <CODE></PLAINTEXT></CODE> element, allowing discrete blocks of <CODE><PLAINTEXT></CODE> formatted text to be displayed.
<P><CODE><PLAINTEXT></CODE> can also take the <SPAN CLASS="attr">CLASS</SPAN>, <SPAN CLASS="attr">ID</SPAN> and <SPAN CLASS="attr">STYLE</SPAN> attributes to allow style sheet definitions to be applied to it. For more details of these attributes, see the <A HREF="../style/ov.htm">Style Sheets</A> topic.
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