XHTML Structural Markup Language

Reference & Notes

Block Elements

<address>

The address element provides a generic container for contact information.

Format<address>...</address>
Specification> HTML 2.0
Element Attributesnone
Event Handler Attributesnone

<h1>, <h2>, <h3>, <h4>, <h5>, <h6>

These provide headings appropriate to the content that directly follows in the document.

<p>

<blockquote>

The only redeeming factor of this tag is the cite="URL" attribute, otherwise use <p><q>...</q></p> instead. (The UA should be intelligent enough to see that paragraphs grouped together in a <div> are related.)

<div>

<hr>

<noscript>

<pre>

The pre element is a generic container for preformatted text, which is rendered in a monospaced font and preserves all whitespace characters. It may not contain any applet, big, img, object, small, sub or sup elements.

I recommend against the use of this element, as it is presentation only. Rather style a <div> or <p> with font-family: monospace; white-space: pre; instead.

Phrase Elements

<abbr>

The abbr element provides an encapsulation and enumeration mechanism for abbreviations that appear in the body text.

<acronym>

<b>

I recommend against the use of this element, as it is presentation only. Rather style a <span> with font-weight: bolder; instead.

<big>

I recommend against the use of this element, as it is presentation only. Rather style a <span> with font-size: larger; instead.

<br>

<cite>

<code>

<del>

<dfn>

<em>

<i>

I recommend against the use of this element, as it is presentation only. Rather style a <span> with font-style: italic; instead.

<ins>

<kbd>

<nobr>

I recommend against the use of this element, as it is presentation only. Rather style a <span> with white-space: nowrap; instead.

<q>

<s>

I recommend against the use of this element, as it is presentation only. Rather style a <span> with text-decoration: line-through; instead.

<samp>

<small>

I recommend against the use of this element, as it is presentation only. Rather style a <span> with font-size: smaller; instead.

<span>

<strike>

I recommend against the use of this element, as it is presentation only. Rather style a <span> with text-decoration: line-through; or use the <del> / <ins> tag pair instead.

<strong>

<sub>

<sup>

<tt>

I recommend against the use of this element, as it is presentation only. Rather style a <span> with font-family: monospace; instead.

<u>

I recommend against the use of this element, as it is presentation only. Rather style a <span> with text-decoration: underline; instead.

<var>

<wbr>

Table Elements

<table>

<caption>

<col>

<colgroup>

<tbody>

<td>

<tfoot>

<th>

<thead>

<tr>

Form Elements

<button>

<fieldset>

<form>

<input>

<keygen>

<label>

<legend>

<option>

<optgroup>

<select>

<textarea>

<head> Elements

<head>

<base>

<link>

<meta>

<style>

<title>

List Elements

<dir>

<menu>

<ol>

<ul>

<li>

Definition List Elements

<dl>

<dt>

<dd>

Other Elements

<a>

<applet>

<area>

<bdo>

<body>

<embed>

<html>

<iframe>

<img>

<map>

<object>

<param>

<script>

<xml>