<span>
Inline markup
An inline box with no meaning, used to style part of a line differently.
| How to write it | <span></span> |
|---|---|
| Closing tag | </span> |
| Void element | No — it must be closed |
| Common attributes | class |
| Category | Inline markup |
How to read this
- Most tags come in pairs, opening and closing. Only tags with no content — img, br — are left unclosed.
- Writing </br> for a void element does nothing useful; the browser ignores it or adds an empty line.
- Appearance is CSS’s job. A tag says what something is; bold or italic is only the consequence.
- Choosing the tag that matches the meaning helps search engines and screen readers alike. Wrapping everything in div throws that information away.
Frequently asked questions
Q. What is the HTML <span> tag?
An inline box with no meaning, used to style part of a line differently.
Q. How do you write <span>?
As <span></span>. The opening <span> pairs with the closing </span>.
Q. Which attributes are common on <span>?
class are the usual ones.
Q. What group does <span> belong to?
The inline markup group.