Using the HTML `` Element to Group Search Form Elements: Enhancing Structure and Accessibility

Learn how to semantically group search form elements using the HTML `` element. This tutorial explains its purpose, demonstrates its usage, and shows how to style it with CSS for creating clear, accessible, and user-friendly search forms.

Using the HTML `` Element to Group Search Form Elements

Understanding the `` Element

The HTML `` element is a semantic element that groups form elements related to a search function. While it doesn't inherently change the visual appearance of the elements within it, it provides a clear way to indicate the purpose of a form. This improves the structure and accessibility of your HTML and makes it easier for both users and assistive technologies to understand the page's purpose.

Note: Browsers don't render the `` element with any special styling; you'll need to use CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) to control the appearance.

Using the `` Element

The `` element acts as a container; the form elements related to the search function should be placed inside it. Here's a basic example:

Example: Grouping Search Elements

<form>
  <search>
    <input type="search" name="search" placeholder="Search...">
    <input type="submit" value="Submit">
  </search>
</form>

Browser Support for ``

The `` element enjoys broad support across modern browsers.

Browser Support
Chrome Yes
Edge Yes
Firefox Yes
Opera Yes
Safari Yes

Styling the `` Element with CSS

You can use CSS to style the `` element and its contents. For example:

Example: Styling `` with CSS

search {
  display: block;
  border: 1px solid #ccc;
  padding: 5px;
}

Most browsers render the `` element as a block-level element by default.