HTML Elements: Inline vs Block

Last Updated: 22nd June, 2023

What is an element in HTML?

In HTML, an element is a fundamental building block that represents different types of content on a webpage. It consists of a start tag, content, and an end tag, and may also contain attributes that provide additional information about the element.

For example, the <h1> element is used to represent a top-level heading on a webpage. Its start tag is <h1>, its content is the text of the heading, and its end tag is </h1>.

Here's an example of an HTML element:

<p>This is a paragraph element.</p>

In this example, the <p> element is used to represent a paragraph of text. Its start tag is <p>, its content is the text of the paragraph, and its end tag is </p>.

HTML provides a wide range of elements that can be used to represent different types of content on a webpage, such as headings, paragraphs, images, links, tables, forms, and more. By using these elements appropriately, web developers can create well-structured and accessible web pages that are easy to read and navigate.

Inline elements

Inline elements are a specific type of HTML element that are used to format text and other content in the body of an HTML document.

Inline elements are called so because they are typically placed inside other HTML elements, such as paragraphs or headings. Unlike block-level elements, which start on a new line and take up the entire width of their parent container, inline elements only take up as much space as necessary to display their content.

Here are some common examples of HTML inline elements:

1. <a> - The anchor element is used to create hyperlinks to other pages or websites.
2. <strong> and <em> - These elements are used to apply emphasis to text. <strong> is used for important or critical text, while <em> is used to indicate emphasis or stress.
3. <span> - The span element is a generic inline container that can be used to group other inline elements for styling or other purposes.
4. <img> - The image element is used to insert images into an HTML document.
5. <input> - The input element is used to create various types of form controls, such as text boxes, checkboxes, and radio buttons.
6. <abbr> - The abbreviation element is used to mark up abbreviated text and provide a full expansion of the abbreviation using the title attribute.
7. <cite> - The citation element is used to mark up the title of a work, such as a book or article.
8. <q> - The quote element is used to mark up a short quotation.

Inline elements can also be used in combination with other HTML elements to achieve specific formatting effects. For example, you can use the <strong> element inside a <h1> element to create a heading that is both visually bold and semantically important.

It's important to note that inline elements should be used for formatting and styling purposes only, and not for creating structural elements on a page. For example, using an <a> element to create a button is not recommended, as it can cause accessibility and usability issues.

Example Use case of Inline elements

<p>My favorite sports are:</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Football</strong></li>
<li><em>Basketball</em></li>
<li><a href="[<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennis>](<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennis>)">Tennis</a></li>
<li><span style="color: red;">Table Tennis</span></li>
<li><code>Running</code></li>
<li><img src="soccer-ball.png" alt="A soccer ball" height="50px" width="50px"></li>
</ol>

In this code, we have a paragraph element (<p>) that contains some text. Then, we have an ordered list element (<ol>) that contains six list item elements (<li>).

Inside each list item, we have a different inline element:

1. The first list item contains the <strong> element, which is used to make the word "Football" bold.
2. The second list item contains the <em> element, which is used to italicize the word "Basketball".
3. The third list item contains the <a> element, which is used to create a hyperlink to the Wikipedia page on Tennis.
4. The fourth list item contains the <span> element, which is used to apply a red color to the words "Table Tennis".
5. The fifth list item contains the <code> element, which is used to display the word "Running" as code.
6. The sixth list item contains the <img> element, which is used to display an image of a soccer ball.

Note that the <img> element is technically not an inline element, but it is often used inline to display images within a block of text.

Block Elements

In HTML, block elements are used to create larger divisions or sections of a webpage. Unlike inline elements, block elements take up the full width of their parent container and create a line break before and after the element. They are often used to create structural elements such as headings, paragraphs, lists, tables, and forms.

Here are some common examples of block elements in HTML:

1. <div> - The div element is a generic block-level container that is often used to group other HTML elements together for styling or other purposes.

Example: <div class="container">...</div>

2. <p> - The p element is used to represent a paragraph of text.

Example: <p>This is a paragraph of text.</p>

3. <h1> to <h6> - The h1 to h6 elements are used to represent headings of different levels of importance.

Example: <h1>This is a top-level heading</h1>

4. <ul> and <ol> - The ul and ol elements are used to create unordered and ordered lists, respectively.

Example:

<ul>
  <li>Item 1</li>
  <li>Item 2</li>
</ul>

5. <table> - The table element is used to create tables on a webpage.

Example:

<table>
  <tr>
    <th>Name</th>
    <th>Age</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>John Doe</td>
    <td>25</td>
  </tr>
</table>

6. <form> - The form element is used to create HTML forms, which allow users to input data on a webpage.

Example:

<form>
  <label for="username">Username:</label>
  <input type="text" id="username">
</form>

7. <header> - The header element is used to create a header section at the top of a webpage or a section of a webpage.

Example:

<header><h1>Welcome to my website</h1></header>

8. <nav> - The nav element is used to create a navigation section that typically contains links to different parts of a website.

Example:

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

One important thing to note about block elements is that they can contain both block-level and inline elements. This means that they can be used to define both large blocks of content and small pieces of content that are integrated into a larger block of content.

Differences Between Inline and Block Elements

The main difference between inline and block elements is how they are displayed on a web page. Inline elements are displayed within a line of text, while block elements are displayed as a separate block of content. Inline elements do not start on a new line and do not create a new block of content, while block elements start on a new line and create a new block of content.

Another difference between inline and block elements is how they are used. Inline elements are typically used to define small pieces of content such as text or images that are integrated into a larger block of text. Block elements are typically used to define larger blocks of content such as paragraphs, headings, and lists.

Conclusion

Understanding the difference between inline and block elements is essential for creating well-structured and visually appealing web pages. Inline elements are used to define small pieces of content that are integrated into a larger block of text, while block elements are used to define larger blocks of content such as paragraphs, headings, and lists. By using the appropriate type of element for your content, you can create web pages that are easy to read, understand, and navigate.