How many tags are there in HTML?

HTML, or HyperText Markup Language, is the backbone of the web. It's the language used to structure content on the web and make it presentable to users. As a web developer, you'll spend a significant amount of time working with HTML tags, which are the foundation of any webpage. In this blog post, we'll explore the various types of HTML tags, how they are categorized, and provide examples to help you understand their usage. This post is tailored for beginners, so if you're just starting your journey into web development, you've come to the right place!

Introduction to HTML Tags

HTML tags are the building blocks of a webpage. They define the structure and layout of the content, making it easier for browsers to render the page. In essence, an HTML tag is a set of instructions that tells the browser how to display the content. There are many different tags, each with its specific purpose and use case.

HTML tags can be broadly categorized into three main categories: block-level, inline, and inline-block elements. Let's dive into each category and understand what makes them unique.

Block-level Elements

Block-level elements, as the name suggests, create a block of content that takes up the full width of their container. These elements start on a new line and stack vertically one after another. Some common examples of block-level elements include:

<div>
<p>
<h1> to <h6>
<ol>
<ul>
<li>
<table>

Here's an example of the usage of block-level elements:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <title>Block-level Elements Example</title>
</head>
<body>
  <h1>Block-level Elements</h1>
  <p>This is a paragraph, which is a block-level element.</p>
  <div>
    <p>This is another paragraph inside a div, both are block-level elements.</p>
  </div>
</body>
</html>

In this example, you can see that the <h1> and <p> elements are block-level elements, as they start on a new line and take up the full width of their container.

Inline Elements

Inline elements, on the other hand, do not create a new block of content. Instead, they are placed within an existing line of text or other inline elements. Inline elements do not cause a line break, and their width is determined by the content they hold. Some common examples of inline elements include:

<span>
<a>
<img>
<em>
<strong>
<br>
<input>

Here's an example of the usage of inline elements:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <title>Inline Elements Example</title>
</head>
<body>
  <p>
    This is a paragraph with <strong>inline</strong> elements such as
    <a href="https://codedamn.com/">codedamn</a> and an
    <img src="example-image.jpg" alt="Example image" width="50" height="50">.
  </p>
</body>
</html>

In this example, the <strong>, <a>, and <img> tags are inline elements, as they do not create a new block of content and are placed within the existing text.

Inline-block Elements

Inline-block elements combine the characteristics of both block-level and inline elements. They behave like inline elements, as they do not create a new block of content, but they also have the ability to set dimensions (width and height) like block-level elements. Some common examples of inline-block elements include:

<button>
<select>
<textarea>

Here's an example of the usage of inline-block elements:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <title>Inline-block Elements Example</title>
</head>
<body>
  <p>
    This is a paragraph with an
    <button type="button" style="width: 100px; height: 50px;">Inline-block Button</button>
    element.
  </p>
</body>
</html>

In this example, the <button> element is an inline-block element, as it is placed within the existing text and has a specified width and height.

FAQ

Q: How many tags are there in HTML?

A: There is no exact number of HTML tags, as new tags are introduced, and old ones are deprecated with each new version of HTML. However, there are currently around 140 tags in HTML5.

Q: What is the difference between block-level and inline elements?

A: Block-level elements create a new block of content and take up the full width of their container, while inline elements are placed within an existing line of text or other inline elements and do not cause a line break.

Q: Can I change the display property of an element?

A: Yes, you can change the display property of an element using CSS. For example, you can change a <span> element to behave like a block-level element by setting its display property to "block".

Q: What are some best practices for using HTML tags?

A: Some best practices for using HTML tags include using semantic tags that convey the meaning of the content, nesting tags properly, and closing tags correctly.

We hope this blog post has given you a solid understanding of the different types of HTML tags and their usage. Remember, practice makes perfect, so keep experimenting and building webpages to get hands-on experience with HTML tags. To learn more about HTML, visit the official HTML5 specification and the Mozilla Developer Network (MDN) for in-depth documentation and examples. Happy coding!

Introduction to HTML Tags

Block-level Elements

Inline Elements

Inline-block Elements

FAQ

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