Using the HTML `
` Tag to Create Line Breaks: Precise Text Formatting

Learn how to use the HTML `
` tag to insert line breaks in your web content. This tutorial explains the difference between `
` and `

`, demonstrates its usage for precise text formatting, and highlights its application in displaying poems, addresses, and other text-based content.

Using the HTML `
` Tag to Create Line Breaks

Understanding Line Breaks in HTML

In HTML, the `
` tag (break) inserts a single line break. This is different from creating a new paragraph (`<p>`) because it doesn't add extra vertical spacing; it simply moves the following content to the next line. This makes it very useful for formatting addresses, poems, or other types of text where preserving line breaks is needed. The `
` tag is an empty tag; it doesn't have a closing tag.

Using the `
` Tag

To add a line break, simply insert the `
` tag where you want the break to occur. For example:

<p>This is a single line of text.<br>
This is a second line.</p>

Note that the `
` tag is an inline element, meaning that it does not add extra space or line breaks before or after the break itself. Multiple line breaks will generally be rendered as a single line break.

Browser Support for `
`

The `
` tag is supported by all major modern browsers.

Using `
` in Poems

The `
` tag is especially useful when displaying poems or other text where you need precise line breaks. Without using `
`, the browser might render the entire poem on a single line, making it hard to read.

<p>
  Roses are red,<br>
  Violets are blue,<br>
  Sugar is sweet,<br>
  And so are you.
</p>