Understanding HTML Tags

Understanding and using HTML tags correctly can greatly improve accessibility, optimize search engine results, and enhance the overall user experience.

This guide highlights the importance of using HTML tags correctly, ensuring accessibility, search engine optimization, and enhanced user experience.

Semantic structure

  • <article>: Use for main blog posts, case studies, or individual product descriptions. Avoid wrapping general elements like headers or footers.

  • <aside>: Perfect for displaying sidebars, related links, or callouts, ensuring they’re visually separate but contextually connected.

  • <main>: Reserved for the primary content of the page, excluding navigation or repetitive elements.

Interactive elements

  • <button>: Always use the button tag for actions like submitting forms, toggling menus, or loading more content. This ensures proper functionality and accessibility, especially for screen readers.

  • Avoiding non-semantic tags: Never use <div> or <span> for interactive purposes. Instead, let your actions and intent drive semantic choices.

Content grouping

  • <div>: Best used as a container for styling or JavaScript functionality without implying semantic importance.

  • <figure> and <figcaption>: Use for images, charts, or code snippets with descriptive captions, ensuring clarity and context.

Navigation and layout

  • <header>: Great for creating sticky navigation bars or hero sections within distinct sections.

  • <nav>: Enclose all navigation elements (header links, footer links, sidebar menus) to improve the semantic structure and usability.

Lists and hierarchies

  • <ol> and <ul>: Ideal for lists like feature breakdowns, step-by-step guides, or navigation menus. Ensure proper indentation and significance with ordered or unordered contexts.

Structural tags for clarity

  • <section>: Segment pages into logical blocks like testimonials, services, or feature highlights.

  • <footer>: Include secondary navigation, copyright information, or sign-up forms either for the entire site or specific sections.

By incorporating these tags strategically, you’ll create websites that not only look great but also perform exceptionally in terms of usability, accessibility, and search visibility.