HTML Block-level & Inline Elements

In HTML, elements are categorized into two main types based on how they behave and interact with other elements: block-level elements and inline elements.

Block-Level Elements:

Block-level elements typically start on a new line and occupy the full width available to them by default. They create "blocks" of content. Some common block-level elements include:

  • <div> A generic container for grouping elements and applying styles
  • <p> Represents a paragraph of text.
  • <h1> to<h1> Headings of various levels.
  • <ul>,<ol>,<li> Unordered and ordered lists with list items.
  • <table> <thead> <tbody> <tr> <th> <td> Elements for defining tables and their parts.
  • <form> <fieldset> <legend> <input> <button> Form-related elements.
  • <header> <footer> <section> <article> <nav> HTML5 semantic elements for structuring content.
Example of Block-Level Elements: block-level
Inline Elements:

Inline elements do not start on a new line and only occupy as much width as necessary. They typically flow within the content and are often used within block-level elements. Some common inline elements include:

  • <span> A generic inline container for text and other inline elements.
  • <a> Creates hyperlinks.
  • <strong><em><b><i> Text formatting elements for emphasis and style.
  • <img>, <br>, <input>, <button>, <label>, <select>, <textarea>, <cite>, <code>, <small>, <sup>, <sub>, <time>, <abbr>, <kbd>, <var>, <mark>, <q>, <s>, <u>, <del>, <ins> Various inline elements used for specific purposes.
inline

Differentiating Block vs Inline :

  • Behavior: Block-level elements start on a new line and take up the full width available, whereas inline elements do not start on a new line and only take up as much width as necessary.
  • Default Styling: Block-level elements often create visible blocks of content, making them suitable for structuring large parts of a webpage, while inline elements are more useful for styling smaller parts or adding decorations within text.
  • Usage:Block-level elements are commonly used for major structural elements of a webpage, such as sections, paragraphs, lists, and forms. Inline elements are typically used for text-level semantics and inline stylistic control.