How to fix html has lang on OpenCart
Add a valid `lang` attribute to the `<html>` element so browsers and assistive technologies know what language your page is written in.
Steps for OpenCart
- In OpenCart, the root HTML is output by your theme's layout template, typically `catalog/view/theme/<your-theme>/template/common/html.twig` or `html.tpl` depending on your version.
- Open the file via FTP or a file manager (use a custom theme copy, not the default theme).
- Find the `<html` tag and update it to include the language code variable, for example: `<html lang="{{ language_code }}">` (Twig) or `<html lang="<?php echo $language_code; ?>">`.
- Ensure the controller passes the language ISO code to the view — check `catalog/controller/common/html.php` to confirm `$data['language_code']` is set from the active language.
- Save, then verify via View Source on the storefront.
<html lang="en">What is html has lang?
Every web page starts with an `<html>` tag. The `lang` attribute on that tag (e.g., `<html lang="en">`) declares the primary human language of the page's content. Without it, screen readers, browsers, and translation tools have to guess the language — and they often guess wrong. This is a WCAG 2 Success Criterion 3.1.1 ("Language of Page") requirement, meaning it is part of an internationally recognised accessibility standard.
Screen readers use the `lang` attribute to select the correct voice engine and pronunciation rules — a missing or wrong value means a visually impaired customer hears your product descriptions read aloud in the wrong accent or language, making your store unusable for them. Failing WCAG 3.1.1 is an accessibility violation that can expose your business to legal risk under laws such as the ADA (US), the European Accessibility Act (EU), and the Equality Act (UK). Search engines also use the declared language to correctly index and serve your pages in the right regional search results, so a missing `lang` can quietly hurt your international organic traffic. It is also one of the fastest accessibility wins available — a one-line change that immediately satisfies a legal compliance checkpoint.
See the complete Html has lang guide for every platform and the full background.
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