---
title: <xsl:message>
slug: Web/XSLT/Element/message
tags:
  - Element
  - Reference
  - XSLT
  - message
---
{{ XsltRef() }}

The `<xsl:message>` element outputs a message (to the JavaScript Console in NS) and optionally terminates execution of the stylesheet. It can be useful for debugging.

### Syntax

```xml
<xsl:message terminate="yes" | "no" >
  TEMPLATE
</xsl:message>
```

### Required Attributes

None.

### Optional Attributes

- `terminate`
  - : Set to "`yes`", indicates that execution should be terminated. The default value is "`no`", in which case the message is output and execution continues.

### Type

Instruction, appears within a template.

### Defined

XSLT, section 13.

### Gecko support

Supported.
