HTML Tags
HTML tags are the building blocks of webpages. They define the structure, content, and functionality of a webpage.
HTML tags consist of keywords enclosed in angle brackets (< >
), and most tags have an opening tag and a corresponding closing tag. For example, <p>
is an opening tag for a paragraph, and </p>
is the closing tag.
HTML tags are used to define elements such as headings, paragraphs, links, images, tables, forms, and more.
Basic Syntax of HTML Tags
HTML tags follow a consistent syntax. Most tags use the following structure:
<tagname attribute="value">Content</tagname>
Key components of HTML tags include:
- Tag Name: Specifies the type of element (e.g.,
<p>
for paragraphs,<h1>
for headings). - Attributes: Optional parameters that provide additional information or modify the tag’s behavior (e.g.,
class
,id
,style
). - Content: The text or elements enclosed within the opening and closing tags.
Categories of HTML Tags
HTML tags can be broadly categorized based on their functionality:
- Structural Tags: Define the structure of a webpage.
<html>
: Root element of an HTML document.<head>
: Contains metadata and links to stylesheets or scripts.<body>
: Contains the visible content of the page.
- Text Formatting Tags: Style and format text.
<p>
: Defines a paragraph.<h1> to <h6>
: Define headings of different levels.<strong>
,<em>
,<mark>
: Apply bold, italic, or highlighted text styles.
- Link and Media Tags: Embed links and media elements.
<a>
: Defines hyperlinks.<img>
: Embeds images.<video>
,<audio>
: Embed multimedia content.
- Form and Input Tags: Create interactive forms.
<form>
: Defines a form for user input.<input>
: Defines input fields.<button>
,<select>
,<textarea>
: Add buttons, dropdowns, and text areas.
- Table Tags: Organize data in tabular format.
<table>
: Defines a table.<tr>
,<td>
,<th>
: Define rows and cells.<thead>
,<tbody>
,<tfoot>
: Define table sections.
- Semantic Tags: Provide meaningful structure.
<header>
,<footer>
: Define header and footer sections.<article>
,<section>
,<aside>
: Organize content semantically.<nav>
: Represents navigation links.
Void Tags vs. Paired Tags
HTML tags are classified into two types:
- Void Tags: These tags do not have a closing tag and are self-closing. Examples include:
<img>
: Embeds an image.<br>
: Inserts a line break.<hr>
: Inserts a horizontal line.
- Paired Tags: These tags have both an opening and a closing tag. Examples include:
<p>...</p>
: Defines a paragraph.<div>...</div>
: Defines a container.<span>...</span>
: Defines inline text.
HTML Tags Table
In the following table, we covered all the HTML tags, where each tag takes you to a dedicated tutorial on the respective tag, and also a short description is given for each tag.
Tag | Description |
---|---|
<a> | Defines a hyperlink. |
<abbr> | Defines an abbreviation or acronym. |
<address> | Defines contact information for the author/owner of a document. |
<area> | Defines an area inside an image map. |
<article> | Defines an article. |
<aside> | Defines content aside from the page content. |
<audio> | Defines embedded sound content. |
<b> | Defines bold text. |
<base> | Specifies the base URL/target for all relative URLs in a document. |
<bdi> | Isolates a part of text that might be formatted in a different direction. |
<bdo> | Overrides the current text direction. |
<blockquote> | Defines a section that is quoted from another source. |
<body> | Defines the document’s body. |
<br> | Defines a single line break. |
<button> | Defines a clickable button. |
<canvas> | Used to draw graphics via scripting (usually JavaScript). |
<caption> | Defines a table caption. |
<cite> | Defines the title of a work. |
<code> | Defines a piece of computer code. |
<col> | Specifies column properties for each column within a <colgroup> element. |
<colgroup> | Specifies a group of one or more columns in a table for formatting. |
<data> | Links content with a machine-readable value. |
<datalist> | Specifies a list of pre-defined options for an input element. |
<dd> | Defines a description/value of a term in a description list. |
<del> | Defines text that has been deleted. |
<details> | Defines additional details that the user can view or hide. |
<dfn> | Represents the defining instance of a term. |
<dialog> | Defines a dialog box or interactive component. |
<div> | Defines a division or section in a document. |
<dl> | Defines a description list. |
<dt> | Defines a term/name in a description list. |
<em> | Defines emphasized text. |
<embed> | Defines a container for an external (non-HTML) application. |
<fieldset> | Groups related elements in a form. |
<figcaption> | Defines a caption for a <figure> element. |
<figure> | Specifies self-contained content. |
<footer> | Defines a footer for a document or section. |
<form> | Defines an HTML form for user input. |
<h1> | Defines HTML heading: Heading 1. |
<h2> | Defines HTML heading: Heading 2. |
<h3> | Defines HTML heading: Heading 3. |
<h4> | Defines HTML heading: Heading 4. |
<h5> | Defines HTML heading: Heading 5. |
<h6> | Defines HTML heading: Heading 6. |
<head> | Contains metadata/information for the document. |
<header> | Defines a header for a document or section. |
<hr> | Defines a thematic change in the content. |
<html> | Defines the root of an HTML document. |
<i> | Defines a part of text in an alternate voice or mood. |
<iframe> | Defines an inline frame. |
<img> | Defines an image. |
<input> | Defines an input control. |
<ins> | Defines a text that has been inserted. |
<kbd> | Defines keyboard input. |
<label> | Defines a label for an input element. |
<legend> | Defines a caption for a <fieldset> element. |
<li> | Defines a list item. |
<link> | Defines the relationship between a document and an external resource. |
<main> | Specifies the main content of a document. |
<map> | Defines a client-side image map. |
<mark> | Defines marked/highlighted text. |
<meta> | Defines metadata about an HTML document. |
<meter> | Defines a scalar measurement within a known range. |
<nav> | Defines navigation links. |
<noscript> | Defines an alternate content for users that do not support client-side scripts. |
<object> | Defines a container for an external resource. |
<ol> | Defines an ordered list. |
<optgroup> | Defines a group of related options in a drop-down list. |
<option> | Defines an option in a drop-down list. |
<output> | Defines the result of a calculation. |
<p> | Defines a paragraph. |
<picture> | Defines a container for multiple image resources. |
<pre> | Defines preformatted text. |
<progress> | Represents the progress of a task. |
<q> | Defines a short quotation. |
<rp> | Defines what to show in browsers that do not support ruby annotations. |
<rt> | Defines an explanation/pronunciation of characters. |
<ruby> | Defines a ruby annotation. |
<s> | Defines text that is no longer correct. |
<samp> | Defines sample output from a computer program. |
<script> | Defines a client-side script. |
<section> | Defines a section in a document. |
<select> | Defines a drop-down list. |
<small> | Defines smaller text. |
<source> | Defines multiple media resources for media elements. |
<span> | Defines an inline section in a document. |
<strong> | Defines important text. |
<style> | Defines style information for a document. |
<sub> | Defines subscripted text. |
<summary> | Defines a visible heading for a <details> element. |
<sup> | Defines superscripted text. |
<svg> | Defines a container for SVG graphics. |
<table> | Defines a table. |
<tbody> | Groups the body content in a table. |
<td> | Defines a cell in a table. |
<template> | Defines a container for content that should be hidden when the page loads. |
<textarea> | Defines a multiline input control (text area). |
<tfoot> | Groups the footer content in a table. |
<th> | Defines a header cell in a table. |
<thead> | Groups the header content in a table. |
<time> | Defines a specific point in time. |
<title> | Defines a title for the document. |
<tr> | Defines a row in a table. |
<track> | Defines text tracks for media elements. |
<u> | Defines text that should be stylistically different from normal text. |
<ul> | Defines an unordered list. |
<var> | Defines a variable. |
<video> | Defines embedded video content. |
<wbr> | Defines a possible line-break. |