What is an HTML Element?

HTML elements are the building blocks or sections used to create and structure web pages. Each element is a piece of content, such as text, images, or links, that tells the browser how to display the content on the page. Elements are written inside tags, which usually come in pairs (an opening and a closing tag) and wrap around the content they are formatting.

Just like how a house is built using bricks, doors, and windows, a website is built using different HTML Elements. Each element is like a part of the house—some show text, others include images, and some are buttons people can click on. Together, these elements make the website work.

Paragraph Element Example

Image Element Example

NOTE: Some elements don’t need a closing tag because they don’t contain content. There are more self-closing elements similar to this.

How HTML Elements Work

1. Tags: Tags are like labels that mark the start and end of an HTML element. They usually come in pairs: an opening tag and a closing tag, wrapping around the content they define.
2. Attributes: Attributes provide additional information about an element, like setting its size or style. They are written inside the opening tag and help control how the element behaves. Attributes usually come in name/value pairs, separated by the equal sign (=), and the value is inside quotation like this; name=”value”. One of the most commonly used attribute combination is the class, followed by its value. E.g. class="text-center", where text-center is the value.
3. Content: This is the text or media placed inside an HTML element, like the words in a paragraph or an image file.
4. Self-Closing Tags: Some elements don’t need a closing tag because they don’t contain content. Examples include the img element for images and br for line breaks, which act on their own.
5. Nesting: HTML elements can be placed inside other elements to organize content better. For example, you can put a strong (bold text) tag inside a p (paragraph) tag to make some text bold within a paragraph.
6. Block vs. Inline Elements: Block elements, like div and h1, take up the full width of the page and start on a new line, while inline elements, like span and a, only take up as much space as needed and stay on the same line as surrounding content.
7. Common Elements: Some of the most used HTML elements are h1 to h6 for headings, p for paragraphs, a for links, img for images, and ul or ol for lists. These elements help structure the page and add media.

These basics of HTML elements form the foundation of web development and are essential to creating functional and well-structured web pages.

Why Understanding HTML Elements is Important

Understanding HTML Elements is essential for web designers because they are the foundation of any website. Knowing how to use these elements effectively allows a designer to create structured, user-friendly, and visually appealing websites. By mastering HTML Elements, web designers can control the look and feel of their web pages and ensure they work well on different devices.

Additionally, when a designer knows how HTML Elements work, it helps them communicate better with developers, improving the entire web design process. Web designers who understand HTML can also make quick edits and improvements to their designs without needing outside help, saving time and increasing efficiency.

HTML Elements Role in User Experience

First impressions are everything, and that holds true for your website as well. Well structured HTML elements are the cornerstone of a positive user experience. Imagine a cluttered room overflowing with furniture – navigating it would be frustrating. The same applies to a website with a disorganized layout. Effective HTML structures your content clearly, guiding visitors where to look and how to interact with your page. This not only improves aesthetics, but also boosts usability. Users can find the information they need faster, leading to higher engagement and conversions. Furthermore, well-structured elements are essential for search engine optimization (SEO). Search engines can crawl and understand your content more efficiently, potentially improving your website’s ranking. By investing in effective HTML elements, you’re laying the groundwork for a successful and user-friendly online presence.

Nested HTML Elements Example

Commenting in HTML

HTML commenting is a way to add notes or explanations within the HTML code that are not visible to users on the webpage. These comments help developers explain their code, make notes for future updates, or temporarily disable parts of the code without deleting them. Comments are ignored by the browser, so they don’t affect how the page is displayed.

Comment Example

Comment Within HTML Example

Plain HTML Elements Rendering

Slide the green handle with arrows to see the source code and how the browser renders this code.