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General

Semantic elements in HTML

Semantic elements in HTML are elements that clearly describe their meaning in a way that both browsers and developers can understand. These elements are important for accessibility, search engine optimization (SEO), and readability of the code. They provide structure to the webpage, making it easier to understand and navigate.

Key Characteristics of Semantic HTML

1. Meaningful to developers : They convey the role of the content contained inside them.
2. Better accessibility: Screen readers and other assistive technologies can interpret the content more accurately.
3. SEO benefits : Search engines can better understand the structure of the page and rank content accordingly.

Examples of Semantic Elements:

1. Header

 – Represents the header of a section or page.
 – Typically contains navigation links, logos, and introductory content.

				
					<header>
     <h1>Welcome to My Website</h1>
     <nav>
       <ul>
         <li><a href="#">Home</a></li>
         <li><a href="#">About</a></li>
         <li><a href="#">Contact</a></li>
       </ul>
     </nav>
   </header>
				
			

2. Footer

 – Represents the footer of a section or page.
 – Typically contains information like copyright, privacy policy, or contact links.

				
					<footer>
     <p>&copy; 2025 My Website. All rights reserved.</p>
     <a href="#">Privacy Policy</a>
   </footer>
				
			

3. Article

 – Represents a self-contained, independent piece of content that can be reused or syndicated (like blog posts, news articles, etc.)

				
					 <article>
     <h2>Article Title</h2>
     <p>This is an article about the importance of semantic HTML.</p>
   </article>
				
			

4. Section

 – Represents a thematic grouping of content, typically with a heading. It is often used to break the page into logical sections.

				
					<section>
     <h2>Our Services</h2>
     <p>We offer web development, design, and digital marketing services.</p>
   </section>
				
			

5. Nav

 – Represents a section of the page that contains navigation links.

				
					<nav>
     <ul>
       <li><a href="#">Home</a></li>
       <li><a href="#">About</a></li>
       <li><a href="#">Contact</a></li>
     </ul>
   </nav>
				
			

6.Aside

 – Represents content that is tangentially related to the content around it. It’s often used for sidebars or related links

				
					<aside>
     <h3>Related Articles</h3>
     <ul>
       <li><a href="#">How to Use Semantic HTML</a></li>
       <li><a href="#">SEO Best Practices</a></li>
     </ul>
   </aside>
				
			

7. Main

 – Represents the main content of the document, excluding headers, footers, and sidebars. There should be only one <main> element per page.

				
					<main>
     <h2>Welcome to Our Website</h2>
     <p>This is the main content of the page.</p>
   </main>
				
			

8. Figure and Figcaption

 – <figure> represents content such as images, diagrams, or videos, and <figcaption> is used to provide a caption for that content.

				
					<figure>
     <img decoding="async" src="image.jpg" alt="A beautiful scenery">
     <figcaption>Beautiful Scenery of the Mountains</figcaption>
   </figure>
				
			

9. Details and Summary

 – <details> represents a disclosure widget from which the user can obtain additional information, and <summary> provides a summary or heading for that content.

				
					<details>
     <summary>More Information</summary>
     <p>This is some additional information that can be expanded.</p>
   </details>
				
			

Non-Semantic Elements

Elements like <div> and <span> are non-semantic, meaning they don’t convey any specific meaning about their content. They are often used for styling purposes or when no other semantic element is appropriate.

For example

				
					<div class="container">
  <div class="header">Header Content</div>
  <div class="content">Main content goes here.</div>
</div>
				
			


In contrast, using semantic elements helps create a better structure and enhances the experience for both developers and users.

Summary

Using semantic HTML elements makes your code more readable, accessible, and SEO-friendly. They provide a clear, logical structure that communicates the purpose of the content in a more meaningful way.