Comparison
What is the difference between progress and meter?
Use <progress> for how far a **task** has got: an upload, a download, step 2 of 4. Use <meter> for a **measurement** inside a known range that is not a task, such as disk usage, a password strength score or a battery level. A screen reader announces <progress> as a progress bar, so using it for a gauge gives people the wrong idea.
| Topic | <progress> | <meter> |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Completion of a task | A scalar value in a known range |
| Examples | File upload, form step 3 of 5, install progress | Disk usage, password strength, quiz score |
| Attributes | value, max | value, min, max, low, high, optimum |
| Indeterminate state | Yes: leave out value | No: it always shows a value |
| Implicit ARIA role | progressbar | meter |
| Submitted with the form | No | No |
Sources: WHATWG HTML Standard: The progress element · WHATWG HTML Standard: The meter element




