What is the difference between HTML elements and tags?


HTML, the stepping stone in the journey of Web Development, has its own share of syntax, rules and coding style. While understanding the difference between HTML elements and tags, we need to brush through these concepts anew.

Now while starting with this differentiation, one thing we need to understand is that both HTML elements and HTML tags are closely related. To say in short, Tags have elements in them. Elements are encapsulated in Tags.

HTML, is a building block of Web development, creating the skeleton/ structure of a web page. To understand HTML and its capabilities, it is important to comprehend the different terms of HTML. One such difference you should be aware of is between elements and tags of HTML.

HTML Elements

Now while starting with this differentiation, one thing we need to understand is that both HTML elements and HTML tags are closely related. To say in short, Tags have elements in them. Elements are encapsulated in Tags.

Element is a particular piece or portion of a webpage represented by HTML. In addition to improving the general structure and semantics of the text, it defines the structure and content of that section. With few exceptions for self-closing tags, HTML elements are defined by their start, content, and end tags. A hierarchy can be formed by items containing other components. Each HTML element on a webpage has a unique purpose and has a distinct meaning.

<p>This is an element.</p>

The names of HTML elements, such as p>, h1>, div>, img>, etc., describe what they are. These names stand for various website elements or semantic parts.

A webpage's content and semantics are determined by its elements. They represent certain elements such as headers, paragraphs, links, photos, forms, etc., adding to the document's structure and hierarchy.

Numerous properties on HTML elements can change an element's behavior or give more information. An element's beginning tag contains the attributes that the element will have. For instance, the href property on the a> (anchor) element specifies the URL it should link to.

HTML Tags

On the other hand, HTML tags are markup characters that specify the beginning and end of an HTML element. Angle brackets (>), which make up tags, are positioned around the names of elements to provide a valid HTML structure. They specify an element's limits within an HTML page.

Opening tags and closing tags are the two different categories of HTML tags. An element's beginning and finish are indicated by the opening and closing tags, respectively. Some elements, referred to as self-closing elements, can be expressed as a single tag and don't need a closing tag.

HTML elements' beginning and finish are indicated by tags. They define the limits of each element by indicating where it starts and stops. To write HTML code that is well-formed, tags are necessary.

In order to define the hierarchy and structure of HTML components inside an HTML page, tags are essential. They are necessary for writing HTML code that is well-structured.

Relationship between HTML Elements and Tags

Although they have a close relationship, tags and HTML components have separate functions. A webpage's content and semantics are defined by its elements, which are bounded by tags that indicate where they begin and finish.

  • While tags are used to denote where each element begins and finishes, elements are used to arrange and organize the information while generating HTML code. The closing tag follows the content to indicate the conclusion of the element, whereas the opening tag comes before the content and adds more information through attributes.

A organized and valid HTML page is created by the combination of HTML elements and tags, guaranteeing accurate display and interpretation by web browsers.

  • The content of the webpage is organized and structured using HTML elements like html>, head>, title>, body>, header>, nav>, ul>, li>, a>, main>, section>, h1>, h2>, p>, and footer>. These components specify the various webpage parts, headers, paragraphs, lists, and links.

  • The tags, which are indicated by the angle brackets, surround the elements and indicate where they begin and stop. For instance, the opening and closing tags for the primary heading element h1> are h1> and /h1>.We're glad you're here.

Together, the components and tags produce a structured HTML file that web browsers can render and display.

Conclusion

In conclusion, knowing the differences between HTML elements and tags is essential for creating online documents that are well-structured and have semantic meaning. HTML elements define the content and aid in the general arrangement of the document by representing particular pieces or sections of a webpage. Each element's name serves as its unique identifier, such as <p>, <h1> and<img> and may also include other components to create a hierarchical structure. The semantics of the material are communicated via elements, which also increase accessibility and boost SEO.

The markup characters used to specify the beginning and end of an HTML element, on the other hand, are known as HTML tags. To produce a legitimate HTML structure, they are made out of angle brackets ('>') and enclose the element name. A document's elements are delineated by tags, with opening tags (') designating the beginning and closing tags ('') designating the end. Self-closing elements are those that have tags that do not require additional closing tags.

Web pages are well-formed, logically structured, and simple for web browsers and assistive technology to comprehend when HTML elements and tags are used appropriately. The accessibility and user experience of web content are both enhanced by semantic HTML, which is done through the appropriate usage of components. Online developers may create more accessible, SEO-friendly, structured, and compliant online documents by knowing the difference between elements and tags and employing them effectively.

Updated on: 18-Aug-2023

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