--- title: "format-detection · Meta Tag · zhead" canonical_url: "https://zhead.dev/meta/format-detection" last_updated: "2026-08-13T08:00:02.986Z" meta: description: "An Apple extension that can stop Safari on iOS from turning text that looks like a telephone number into a call link." "og:description": "An Apple extension that can stop Safari on iOS from turning text that looks like a telephone number into a call link." "og:title": "format-detection · Meta Tag · zhead" --- Meta tags # format-detection An Apple extension that can stop Safari on iOS from turning text that looks like a telephone number into a call link. ## Parameters telephone=no Stops Safari on iOS from automatically linking text that looks like a telephone number. ``` ``` ## Code examples Good example ``` ``` The value documented by Apple for disabling automatic telephone links in Safari on iOS. Avoid this example ``` ``` Apple’s Safari documentation does not define email or address values for this tag. Avoid this example ``` ``` The documented value is telephone=no, not telephone=off. Avoid this example ``` ``` An empty value changes nothing. Omit the tag when the default detection is acceptable. ## Recommendations - 01 Use It for False Positives Add telephone=no when identifiers, order numbers, or other text are being mistaken for phone numbers. - 02 Add Real Call Links Yourself When detection is off, mark real phone numbers with tel links so people can still call them. ## Related documentation - [Apple Developer: MetaTags](https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/AppleApplications/Reference/SafariHTMLRef/Articles/MetaTags.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40008193-SW5) ## Related meta tags ### [application-name](https://zhead.dev/meta/application-name) name Gives browsers a short name for the web application represented by the page. A browser may use it instead of the page title in bookmarks or other interface labels. ``` ``` A short application name that stays useful when the page title changes. ### [charset](https://zhead.dev/meta/charset) charset Declares the character encoding used by the HTML document. In modern HTML, the value must be UTF-8. ``` ``` The required character encoding for modern HTML. ### [color-scheme](https://zhead.dev/meta/color-scheme) name Tells the browser which color schemes the page can render. The browser can use this early, before the stylesheet loads, to choose a suitable canvas and native controls. ``` ``` Declares support for both common schemes, with light listed first as the fallback preference. ### [default-style](https://zhead.dev/meta/default-style) http-equiv Selects the preferred CSS style sheet set by name when a page offers alternate titled stylesheets. Browser support is limited. ``` ``` Valid when a linked stylesheet set has the exact title Main Style. ### [format-detection](https://zhead.dev/meta/format-detection) name An Apple extension that can stop Safari on iOS from turning text that looks like a telephone number into a call link. ``` ``` The value documented by Apple for disabling automatic telephone links in Safari on iOS.