Below is a list of all HTML tags for the standard HTML 4.01 that are also suitable for the XHTML standard (with the exception of those deprecated). Next to each tag you'll find a symbol indicating if the tag is empty or not, which may help you in your labor of writing XHTML code, which is a better choice not so difficult to achieve. We strongly recommend the use of XHTML instead of HTML, because of the benefits and the small differences.
Red color is used to mark deprecated tags, which use is no longer recommended. This happens because they where replaced by other tags (e.g., the HTML applet tag was replaced by the HTML object tag) or because style sheets became a preferred way to achieve their effects. Note that deprecated tags and attributes in HTML may not be supported by further versions (e.g., XHTML 1.0). That's a very good reason to stop using them.
Note: If you don't know what a tag is and/or how you must use it we recommend you to read our HTML tags and attributes tutorial that you can find in our HTML tutorials section.
| Tag | Empty | Short description |
|---|---|---|
| <!-- --> |  | Inserts hidden comments |
| <!DOCTYPE> | | Sets the document type |
| <a> | Inserts links or bookmarks | |
| <abbr> | Explains abbreviations | |
| <acronym> | Explains acronyms | |
| <address> | Provides contact information | |
| <applet> | Inserts an applet (scripts) | |
| <area> | | Defines sectors for image maps |
| <b> | Text in bold style | |
| <base> | | Sets the base URI to solve relative URIs |
| <basefont> | | Sets the default font size |
| <bdo> | Overrides the bidirectional algorithm | |
| <big> | Text in "large" font | |
| <blockquote> | Paragraph quotation | |
| <body> | Contains the renderable elements | |
| <br> | | Forces a line break |
| <button> | Creates a button | |
| <caption> | Set a table's caption | |
| <center> | centers it's content | |
| <cite> | Inserts a citation or reference | |
| <code> | Represents computer code | |
| <col> | | Sets attributes for table's columns |
| <colgroup> | Groups columns in a table | |
| <dd> | Defines descriptions in a list | |
| <del> | Indicates deleted text | |
| <dfn> | Assings a definition to a term | |
| <dir> | Inserts a directory list (tree) | |
| <div> | Defines a block of content | |
| <dl> | Defines a list | |
| <dt> | Inserts a term in a list | |
| <em> | Indicates emphasis | |
| <fieldset> | Groups controls in a form | |
| <font> | Sets the font style | |
| <form> | Inserts a form | |
| <frame> | | Inserts a single frame |
| <frameset> | Inserts a set of frames | |
| <h1> | Heading level 1 | |
| <h2> | Heading level 2 | |
| <h3> | Heading level 3 | |
| <h4> | Heading level 4 | |
| <h5> | Heading level 5 | |
| <h6> | Heading level 6 | |
| <head> | Defines the document's header block | |
| <hr> | | Draws an horizontal line or rule |
| <html> | Contains the document | |
| <i> | Renders italic text | |
| <iframe> | Inserts a frame inside a document | |
| <img> | | Inserts an image |
| <input> | | Display input controls |
| <ins> | Indicates inserted text | |
| <isindex> | | Single line prompt |
| <kbd> | Represents text to be entered by users | |
| <label> | Sets a label for a control | |
| <legend> | Assigns a caption for a fieldset | |
| <li> | Defines a list item | |
| <link> | | Gives relational info about documents |
| <map> | Defines a client-side image map | |
| <menu> | Menu list | |
| <meta> | | Provides info about the document |
| <noframes> | Alternative content for frames | |
| <noscript> | Alternate content for scripts | |
| <object> | Runs external applications | |
| <ol> | Inserts an ordered list | |
| <optgroup> | Groups options in a select control | |
| <option> | Defines an option in a select control | |
| <p> | Defines a paragraph | |
| <param> | | Sets a parameter for an object |
| <pre> | Defines a block of preformatted text | |
| <q> | Inserts a inline quotation | |
| <s> | Renders strike-through text | |
| <samp> | Represents sample output for programs | |
| <script> | Contains scripts | |
| <select> | Creates a select control | |
| <small> | Renders text in "small" font | |
| <span> | Assings attributes to text (inline) | |
| <strike> | Renders strike-through text | |
| <strong> | Indicates strong emphasis | |
| <style> | Defines visual attributes (style sheets) | |
| <sub> | Defines subscript text | |
| <sup> | Defines superscript text | |
| <table> | Inserts a table | |
| <tbody> | Defines a body in a table | |
| <td> | Regular cell of a table | |
| <textarea> | Creates a multiline text input | |
| <tfoot> | Defines a footer in a table | |
| <th> | Header cell of a table | |
| <thead> | Defines a header in a table | |
| <title> | Defines the document's title | |
| <tr> | Inserts a row in a table | |
| <tt> | Renders teletype text | |
| <u> | Renders underlined text | |
| <ul> | Inserts an unordered list | |
| <var> | Indicates an instance of a variable |