This page contains a list of all HTML elements for the HTML
4.01 standard, also corresponding to the XHTML 1.0 and 1.1 standards (with the
exception of those deprecated). Next to each element you'll find a symbol
indicating whether it's empty or not. This may be helpful when writing XHTML
code.
Note that red color is used to mark deprecated elements,
which use is no longer recommended. Elements are deprecated because they are
replaced by others (e.g., the HTML applet element was replaced by the HTML
object element) or because style sheets became a preferred way to achieve their
effects. Also, note that deprecated tags and attributes may not be supported by
further versions (e.g., HTML 5). That's another very good reason to stop using
them.
Note: If you don't know what a tag or element is and/or how
you must use it, we recommend you read our HTML tags and attributes tutorial,
which you can find in our HTML tutorials section.
HTML documents">
Element Empty Short description
<!-- --> Inserts
hidden comments
<!DOCTYPE> Sets
the document type
<a> Inserts
links or bookmarks
<abbr> Explains/expands
abbreviations
<acronym> Explains/expands
acronyms
<address> Shows
contact information of the author
<applet> Inserts
an applet (script)
<area> Defines
sectors for image maps
<b> Converts
text into bold style
<base> Sets
the base URI used to solve relative URIs
<basefont> Sets
the default font size for the entire document
<bdo> Overrides
the bidirectional algorithm for its content
<big> Displays
text in "large" font style
<blockquote> Inserts
a paragraph quotation
<body> Acts
as a container for all renderable elements in the document (document's body)
<br> Forces
a line break
<button> Creates
a button that allows HTML content (elements)
<caption> Sets
a caption for a table
<center> Displays
its content centered
<cite> Inserts
a citation or reference
<code> Declares
its content as computer code
<col> Sets
general attributes for a table's columns
<colgroup> Groups
a number of columns in a table
<dd> Shows
a definition in a term/definition list
<del> Indicates text that should be deleted
or replaced (no longer valid)
<dfn> Assings
a definition to a term
<dir> Inserts
a directory list (tree)
<div> Defines
a block of content
<dl> Inserts
a term/definition list
<dt> Inserts
a term in a term/definition list
<em> Indicates
emphasis for its content
<fieldset> Groups
controls in a form
<font> Sets
the font style for its content
<form> Inserts
a form
<frame> Inserts
a single frame
<frameset> Inserts
a set of frames
<h1> Defines
a level 1 heading
<h2> Defines
a level 2 heading
<h3> Defines
a level 3 heading
<h4> Defines
a level 4 heading
<h5> Defines
a level 5 heading
<h6> Defines
a level 6 heading
<head> Encloses
the document's header block (for document's global declarations)
<hr> Draws
a horizontal line or ruler
<html> Acts
as container for the entire document (head and body)
<i> Renders
its content in italic font style
<iframe> Inserts
a frame inside the content of the document
<img> Inserts
an image
<input> Displays
an input control (text, passwords, radio buttons, checkboxes, files, etc.)
<ins> Indicates
that its content has been inserted in a previous text
<isindex> Provides
a single line prompt
<kbd> Represents
text to be entered by users
<label> Sets
a label for a control in a form
<legend> Assigns
a caption for a fieldset (group of controls in a form)
<li> Inserts
an item in a list (for ordered and unordered lists)
<link> Gives
relational information about a document by linking it to other resources
<map> Defines
a client-side image map
<menu> Inserts a menu list
<meta> Provides
information about the document in form of variables (name and value)
<noframes> Provides
alternative content for frames, displayed when frames support is not available
<noscript> Provides
alternative content for scripts, displayed when scripts support is not
available
<object> Inserts
external applications (e.g., Flash movies/animations)
<ol> Inserts
an ordered list
<optgroup> Groups
options in a "select" control
<option> Defines
an option in a "select" control
<p> Inserts
a paragraph
<param> Sets
a parameter for an object
<pre> Renders
preformatted text, usually in a fixed width font, respecting spaces and line
breaks
<q> Inserts
an inline quotation
<s> Renders
strike-through text
<samp> Represents
sample output for programs
<script> Acts
as a container for client-side script code
<select> Creates
a select control (drop-down list of options)
<small> Renders
text in "small" font
<span> Encloses
a piece of text (inline), most useful to assign attributes to its content
<strike> Renders
strike-through text
<strong> Indicates
strong emphasis for its content
<style> Contains
style sheets code defining visual attributes for the document
<sub> Inserts
subscript text
<sup> Inserts
superscript text
<table> Acts
as main container for table data
<tbody> Defines
a body in a table
<td> Inserts
a regular cell in a table
<textarea> Creates
a multiline text input
<tfoot> Defines
a footer in a table
<th> Inserts
a header cell in a table
<thead> Defines
a header in a table
<title> Defines
a title for the entire document
<tr> Inserts
a row of cells in a table
<tt> Renders
teletype text
<u> Renders
underlined text
<ul> Inserts
an unordered list
<var> Indicates
an instance of a variable