An Overview of HTML Elements

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Tables 1, 2, and 3 provide a brief overview of some of more common HTML elements found in different sections of HTML documents. These tables don't include arguments but they do include the element's tag type. The entire HTML document should be contained in the HTML container element.

Table 1 - HTML Elements for Head Sections in HTML Documents

Element	Element Type	Description
BASE	empty	Base context document
HEAD	container	Document head
ISINDEX	empty	Document is a searchable index
LINK	empty	Link from this document
META	container	Generic meta-information
NEXTID	empty	Next ID to use for link name
TITLE	container	Title of document

Table 2 - HTML Elements for Body Sections in HTML Documents

Element	Element Type	Description
A	container	Anchor: source and/or destination of a link
ADDRESS	container	Address, signature, or byline for a document or passage
B	container	Bold text
BLOCKQUOTE	container	Quoted passage
BODY	container	Document body
BR	empty	Line break
CITE	container	Name or title of cited work
CODE	container	Source code phrase
DD	empty	Definition of term
DIR	container	Directory list
DL	container	Definition list, or glossary
DT	empty	Term in definition list
EM	container	Emphasized phrase
H1	container	Heading, level 1
H2	container	Heading, level 2
H3	container	Heading, level 3
H4	container	Heading, level 4
H5	container	Heading, level 5
H6	container	Heading, level 6
HR	empty	Horizontal rule
I	container	Italic text
IMG	empty	Image; icon, glyph, or illustration
KBD	container	Keyboard phrase, such as user input
LI	empty	List item
OL	container	Ordered or numbered list
P	empty	Paragraph
PRE	container	Preformatted text
SAMP	container	Sample text or characters
SELECT	empty	Selection of option(s)
STRONG	container	Strong emphasis
TT	container	Typewriter text
UL	container	Unordered list
VAR	container	Variable phrase or substitutable

As the HTML standard changes, elements will be deprecated, or replacedby new elements with greater functionality. Deprecated elements will still be supported by existing WWW viewers but may not be in the future. Be prepared to review your older HTML documents for deprecated elements that may no longer be useful.

Table 3 - HTML Elements for Forms in HTML Documents

Element	Element Type	Description
FORM	container	Fill-out or data-entry form
INPUT	empty	Form input datum
TEXTAREA	empty	Area for text input
OPTION	empty	Selection option