---
title: "Element <sub>"
source: https://dev.pageseeder.com/psml/elements/element-sub.html
description: "PSML Element reference for <sub>"
last_updated: 2026-08-07T17:09:54+10:00
tokens: ~199
---

# \<sub\>

## Summary

The `<sub>` element for subscript text.

Superscript element is `<sup>`

## Usage context

| Element category | character-style |
| --- | --- |
| PSML level | portable |
| Permitted content | other character-style and text |
| Permitted parent | block elements |
| HTML equivalent | `<sub>` |
| OpenXML equivalent | `<w:run>` with subscript property |

## Attributes

No attributes.

## Examples

The chemical formal for water is:

```lang-xml

H<sub>2</sub>0
```

Displays as:

H<sub>2</sub>0

## Schema

### XML Schema

```lang-xml
<xs:element name="sub" type="character-style"/>
```

### Relax Schema

```lang-relax

element sub { character-style }
```

## Compatibility

This element was introduced in the first draft of PSML and is well-supported from PageSeeder 5.1.