Elements & Tags in HTML
HTML uses tags to create elements that define the structure and content of a web page. Understanding the difference between elements and tags is key to writing clean and effective HTML.
What is a Tag?
A tag is the code enclosed in angle brackets. Most elements are made of an opening tag and a closing tag.
<p>This is a paragraph.</p>
In this example, <p> is the opening tag and </p> is the closing tag.
What is an Element?
An HTML element includes the opening tag, the content, and the closing tag.
<h1>Welcome</h1>
Here, the entire structure is an element.
Self-Closing Tags
Some HTML tags do not require a closing tag and are self-closing.
<br> <img src="image.jpg" alt="Sample image">
These are called empty elements.
Nesting Elements
HTML allows elements to be nested inside other elements. Be sure to close them in the correct order.
<p>This is a <strong>bold</strong> word.</p>
Conclusion
Understanding the structure of tags and elements is foundational to writing HTML. Proper usage ensures clarity and consistent rendering across browsers.