WDD 130: Web Fundamentals

HTML: Block versus Inline Elements

Overview

An HTML element is, by default, either a block-level or inline element. Block elements occupy the full width of their container and start on new lines. Inline elements only occupy the space needed for the content and do not start on a new line.

"A Block-level element occupies the entire horizontal space of its parent element (container), and vertical space equal to the height of its contents, thereby creating a "block" ... Inline elements are those which only occupy the space bounded by the tags defining the element, instead of breaking the flow of the content."- MDN

Prepare

Carefully ponder, note, and reference the materials provided.

Activity Instructions

Answer the following questions about HTML elements.

  1. Which of the following HTML elements are inline elements by default? 
    <header> <div> <span> <table> <form> <a> <label> <button> <input> <p> <aside> <cite>
    Check Your Understanding 

    <span> <a> <label> <button> <input> <cite>
    The other elements that are listed are block-level elements by default.

    How are you supposed to figure out which is which? You can try them out on your page. And you should also learn to get information using reliable sources. For example, you can use the HTML Reference to look up an element to verify if the element is block or inline.

  2. Go to this code snippet on CodePen and note that the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are separated into panels.
    Focus on the HTML and the block and inline elements that are being used.
    1. In the HTML window, change the second paragraph element to a <div> element. What happened?
      Check Your Understanding

      Nothing should have changed. It is OK for a <div> block element to contain another <div> element.

    2. Now change the first or outer <div> element to a <p> element so that a paragraph contains a div. What happened?
      Check Your Understanding

      This creates an unwanted result. The paragraph element ends early because, by rule, it cannot contain another block-level element. Paragraph elements can only contain inline elements.

    3. Take a look at how the inline elements are only as big as their content and display inline if there is room. These inline elements are common. Can you identify them in the CodePen?
      Check Your Understanding 
      <span> <img> <a> and <button>

Optional Resources