<html>
<head>
<script>
function displayResult()
{
var table=document.getElementById("myTable");
alert(table.rows[0].cells[0].abbr);
}
</script>
</head>
<body>
<table id="myTable" border="1">
<tr>
<td abbr="def">Keep abbreviated names short.
Browsers may render them repeatedly.</td>
<td>cell data</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>cell data</td>
<td>cell data</td>
</tr>
</table>
<br>
<button type="button" onclick="displayResult()">Get first cell abbreviation</button>
</body>
</html>