This template is to help facilitate the displaying of variable names (in mathematics, computer source code, etc.) with the semantically correct <var>...</var>, which also renders the variable in italics, as is customary, and to do so in a serif font. This is specifically for the use of the characters "I" (upper-case i) and "l" (lower-case L), which in many sans-serif fonts can be difficult to distinguish. The template also very slightly adjusts the font size of the enclosed variable, to account for typical difference in x-height between non-fancy serif (e.g., Times and Times New Roman) and sans-serif (e.g. Arial and Helvetica) typefaces. The template should not be used generally, but only for "I" and "l", and perhaps other cases where a known visual ambiguity can be shown to exist in common sans-serif fonts for readers without acute vision. It is recommended to use {{var|1}} rather than {{var serif|1}} for "1" (numeral one), as it is usually more clearly distinguishable from "I" and "l" in sans-serif than serif fonts.
{{Var serif}} need not be used for variables that simply contain "I" or "l", only for cases in which readers are likely to be unable to distinguish them visually.
Because the font styling in the template is done entirely with CSS, it has no effect at all upon content semantics, nor does it change the output for users of screen reader software.
Please note that {{var serif}} is not a panacea; its treatment of the numeral "1" is easily mistaken for the letter "l" (lower-case "L") in many serif fonts.
To indicate text is a variable name. Use for any variable names except those including "I" (uppercase i) and/or "l" (lowercase L); for these, {{var serif}} should be used to ensure a noticeable distinction
To display parameters as used in code (i.e. with triple braces), especially to indicate relationships between them. May be combined with {{para}} above
To display parameter values lightly bordered; replaces <code>...</code>, especially when value contains embedded or leading/trailing blanks; visualized here with middot (·) but can use ␠, ▯, or any character.
To showcase with colors in horizontal format the syntax of any template, while providing an easy way to display placeholder texts using colons as separators
( or {{dc}}) To indicate deprecated source code in template documentation, articles on HTML specs, etc. The {{dc2}} variant uses strike-through (<blink>) while {{dcr}} uses red (<blink>).
To showcase with colors and multiple lines (vertical format) the syntax of any template, while providing an easy way to display placeholder texts using colons as separators
<span class="nowrap" title="<translate nowrap> This is not a clickable button; it illustrates the button one should find.</translate>" style="padding:.2em .6em; border:1px solid; border-color:#AAA #555 #555 #AAA; border-radius: 3px; background-color: #F2F2F2; background-image: linear-gradient(to bottom, #FCFCFC, #E0E0E0); ">Don't save
