HTML `` Element: Grouping and Styling Inline Text

Understanding and Using the HTML `` Element

What is the `` Element?

The HTML <span> tag is an inline container used to group or mark up a section of text within an HTML document. Unlike block-level elements (like <div> or <p>), which start on a new line and take up the full width available, inline elements flow within a line of text. The primary purpose of the <span> element is not to change the visual appearance of the text; it's to add structure and meaning to your HTML. You typically use it in conjunction with CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) or JavaScript to apply styles or behavior to a specific portion of text, enabling you to easily select and control different parts of the text.

Using the `` Element

To use the <span> element, simply place the text you want to style or target within the opening and closing <span> tags. For example:

<p>My favorite color is <span style="color:blue;">blue</span>.</p>

In this example, the word "blue" will be styled blue because the inline style attribute is used. You can use the `class` and `id` attributes to apply styles or behaviors defined in external stylesheets or JavaScript code.

`` vs. `

`: Inline vs. Block Elements

The main difference between <span> and <div> is that `<span>` is an inline element, while `<div>` is a block-level element. Inline elements flow within a line of text, while block-level elements always start on a new line and take up the full width.

Browser Support for ``

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

Global and Event Attributes

The `` element supports standard HTML global attributes and event attributes, allowing for added functionality and customization.