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What Are Elements

This article explains what elements are in the context of web development, how they form the building blocks of a webpage, and the different types of elements you can use. Understanding elements is essential for creating structured, semantic, and accessible websites.

  1. Definition of an Element
  2. Structure of an Element
  3. Types of Elements
  4. Nesting and Hierarchy
  5. Attributes and Properties
  6. Semantic Elements
  7. Best Practices

1. Definition of an Element

An HTML element is a fundamental building block of every webpage. Elements define the structure and meaning of the content you see in the browser — such as paragraphs, headings, images, or links. Each piece of visible or structural content on a webpage is represented by an element.

2. Structure of an Element

A typical element consists of three parts:

  • Opening tag – Marks the beginning of the element (e.g., <p>).
  • Content – The text or other elements contained inside.
  • Closing tag – Marks the end of the element (e.g., </p>).

Example:

<p>This is a paragraph element.</p>

Some elements, such as images (<img>), are self-closing and have no separate closing tag.

3. Types of Elements

Elements can be grouped into different categories based on how they behave:

  • Block-level elements – Start on a new line and occupy the full width of their parent (e.g., <div>, <section>, <h1>).
  • Inline elements – Stay in line with surrounding content (e.g., <span>, <a>, <strong>).
  • Empty (void) elements – Contain no content and close themselves (e.g., <img>, <br>, <hr>).

4. Nesting and Hierarchy

Elements can contain other elements, creating a hierarchical structure known as the DOM (Document Object Model).

<div>
    <h1>Title</h1>
    <p>This is a paragraph inside a div.</p>
</div>

Correct nesting is essential for valid HTML and consistent browser rendering.

5. Attributes and Properties

Elements can have attributes that provide extra information or functionality. Attributes are defined inside the opening tag and always use a name-value pair:

<a href="https://example.com" target="_blank">Visit Example</a>

Common attributes include id, class, src, and alt. These attributes can affect style, behavior, or accessibility.

6. Semantic Elements

Semantic elements clearly describe their meaning and purpose, making code easier to read and improving SEO and accessibility. Examples include:

  • <header> – Defines the header of a page or section.
  • <article> – Represents an independent piece of content.
  • <footer> – Marks the footer of a page or section.
  • <main> – Indicates the main content area of the document.

7. Best Practices

When working with elements, follow these best practices:

  • Use semantic elements whenever possible for clarity and accessibility.
  • Ensure proper nesting and close all tags correctly.
  • Provide descriptive alt text for images to support screen readers.
  • Use class and id attributes to target elements with CSS and JavaScript cleanly.