HTML5 Semantic Elements

What are Semantic Elements?

A semantic element clearly describes its meaning to both the browser and the developer.
Examples of non-semantic elements: <div> and <span> - Tells nothing about its content.
Examples of semantic elements: <form>, <table>, and <img> - Clearly defines its content.

New Semantic Elements in HTML5

Many web sites contain HTML code like: <div id="nav"> <div class="header"> <div id="footer">
to indicate navigation, header, and footer.
HTML5 offers new semantic elements to define different parts of a web page:

• <article>
• <aside>
• <details>
• <figcaption>
• <figure>
• <footer>
• <header>
• <main>
• <mark>
• <nav>
• <section>
• <summary>
• <time>

HTML5 <section> Element

The <section> element defines a section in a document.
According to W3C's HTML5 documentation: "A section is a thematic grouping of content, typically with a heading."
A Web site's home page could be split into sections for introduction, content, and contact information.

HTML5 <article> Element

The <article> element specifies independent, self-contained content.
An article should make sense on its own, and it should be possible to read it independently from the rest of the web site.
Examples of where an <article> element can be used:

• Forum post
• Blog post
• Newspaper article

HTML5 <header> Element

The <header> element specifies a header for a document or section.
The <header> element should be used as a container for introductory content.
You can have several <header> elements in one document.
The following example defines a header for an article:

HTML5 <footer> Element

The <footer> element specifies a footer for a document or section.
A <footer> element should contain information about its containing element.
A footer typically contains the author of the document, copyright information, links to terms of use, contact information, etc.
You can have several <footer> elements in one document.

HTML5 <nav> Element

The <nav> element defines a set of navigation links.
The <nav> element is intended for large blocks of navigation links. However, not all links in a document should be inside a <nav> element!

Tag	Description
<article>	Defines an article
<aside>	Defines content aside from the page content
<details>	Defines additional details that the user can view or hide
<figcaption>	Defines a caption for a <figure> element
<figure>	Specifies self-contained content, like illustrations, diagrams, photos, code listings, etc.
<footer>	Defines a footer for a document or section
<header>	Specifies a header for a document or section
<main>	Specifies the main content of a document
<mark>	Defines marked/highlighted text
<nav>	Defines navigation links
<section>	Defines a section in a document
<summary>	Defines a visible heading for a <details> element
<time>	Defines a date/time