We are going to look into a very recurring concept in Web Development. It is a vital concept seen at the foundation of every webpage, and at the start of most software engineers' careers. We are going to talk about Elements in HTML. As we are aware, HTML elements are the building blocks of every webpage. They give developers the ability to organize material, incorporate multimedia, and produce interactive features that draw users in.
Elements in HTML can be classified into two main categories; Block-level and Inline-level Elements. But sometimes, we encounter some "hybrid" elements, otherwise called Inline-Block Elements. These various categories possess their own peculiarities and provide options for developers like you and me to follow in order to navigate amongst them effortlessly and maintain control.
The image above depicts the basic outlook of an HTML Element. From what we can see, there are various parts to an HTML Tag, but nothing about those parts tells you which group the Element falls under. It takes consistent practice to get familiarized with the different classifications of HTML elements.
The first category we are going to do a deeper dive into is none other than the Block-level Elements. Block-level elements are those that fill the full width of their parent container and add a new line after the element. On a web page, these elements are used to organize the content and make sections. Several of the most typical block-level elements include:
<div> - The "div" element is used to create a block-level container that is used to group other HTML elements together.
<h1> - <h6> - The "h1" to "h6" elements are used to create headings and subheadings on a webpage with h1 being the largest and h6 being the smallest.
<p> - The "p" element is used to make paragraphs of text on a webpage.
<ul> - The "ul" element is used to create unordered list of items
<ol> - The "ol" element is used to create ordered list of items
<table> - The table element is used to create a table that can display data in tabular format.
Next on our list is Inline-level Elements. Inline-level elements occupy only the space needed by their content and do not add a new line after the element. These components can be added to a line of text to format it or add tidbits of information. The most typical inline-level components include the following:
<span>- The "span" element is used to create an inline-level container that can be used to group other HTML elements together.
<a> - The "a" element is used to create hyperlinks on a web page.
<img> - The "img" element is used to embed images on a web page.
<strong> - The "strong" element is used to indicate strong emphasis.
<em> - The "em" element is used to indicate emphasis.
<br> - The "br" element is used to create a line break.
Last, but definitely not the least, we have the Inline-Block Elements. Inline-Block Elements work very similarly to Inline-Level Elements in terms of their display, with the only exception being that with Inline-Block, the height and width of that element become modifiable. These elements are used to create small blocks within a line of text. Examples of some Inline-Block elements include;
<abbr> - The "abbr" element is used to mark up an abbreviation.
<acronym> - The "acronym" element is used to mark up an acronym.
<button> - The "button" element is used to create clickable buttons on a web page.
<code> - Used to mark up a block of code.
<input> - The "input" element is used to create various form controls, such as text inputs, checkboxes, and radio buttons.
<label> - The "label" element is Used to associate a label with a form control.
<select> - The "select" element is used to create dropdown menus.
<textarea> - The "textarea" element is used to create larger text input areas.
and many more.
For web sites to be engaging and effective, it is crucial to understand the various kinds of HTML elements. Developers can create web pages that are organized, accessible, and simple to navigate by properly utilizing these components. A well-structured and aesthetically pleasing web page can be made by knowing which sort of element to use in each circumstance. As you keep growing and making progress with your desire to learn more, you will quickly get used to knowing what group your frequently used elements belong to. Till next time, dear Programmer!