HTML elements, tags, and nested elements are fundamental concepts that beginners often find confusing. Let’s break down each one to understand them better.
HTML Elements
An HTML element is a package that includes a start tag, content, and an end tag.
HTML Element = Start Tag + Content + End Tag
Example
<h1>This is our first heading</h1>Here, <h1> is the start tag, “This is our first heading” is the content, and </h1> is the end tag.
Nested HTML Elements
A nested HTML element is when one element is inside another. The outer one is the “parent” and the inner one is the “child“.
Example
<h1><b>This is our first heading</b></h1>In this example, <b> is the child nested inside the <h1> parent.
Empty HTML Elements
These are elements without a closing tag or content. They’re also called “void” or “self-closing” elements.
Example
<br/>This is a break tag, used for line breaks. It has no content and no closing tag.
HTML Tags vs Elements
- HTML tag mark the start and end of an element.
- HTML elements include tags and content.
Key Points
- Tags set boundaries, while elements have tags and content.
- Tags often come in pairs, but elements can have nested elements.
- Self-closing elements like
<br/>are still elements. - Elements can be “parent” or “child” when nested. Tags cannot.