Home >Web Front-end >CSS Tutorial >When Should You Use `` Instead of `` for Inline Layout?

When Should You Use `` Instead of `` for Inline Layout?

Linda HamiltonOriginal: 2024-11-09 12:50:02843browse

SPAN and DIV: Understanding Inline vs. Block Elements

When designing webpages, choosing the appropriate HTML elements is crucial. Two commonly used elements, and

, have distinct properties that impact their layout. Let's explore their differences and determine when to use each.

Inline-Block vs. Block Elements

According to the HTML specification, is an inline element, meaning it flows with the surrounding text and its width is determined by its content. On the other hand,

is a block element, which behaves as a container with its own height and width.

Using

Instead of

While it is generally not required to use

instead of for inline layout, there are certain advantages:

Cross-Browser Compatibility:
with display: inline-block ensures consistent behavior across different browsers, whereas some browsers may treat with display: inline-block as inline.
Ability to Contain Block-Level Elements:
allows for the inclusion of block-level elements, such as
and
, within its content.

Validating HTML Structure

It is important to note that HTML validation requires that block-level elements are not placed inside inline elements. Therefore, using

with display: inline-block inside a is not considered valid. If block-level content needs to be incorporated within inline flow, a

should be used instead.

Example of Table-Like Layout

The provided example of a table-like layout using

and is valid. However, using elements specifically designed for creating tables is recommended for semantic markup and accessibility purposes.

The above is the detailed content of When Should You Use `` Instead of `` for Inline Layout?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

html if for while Validating using display table

Statement：

The content of this article is voluntarily contributed by netizens, and the copyright belongs to the original author. This site does not assume corresponding legal responsibility. If you find any content suspected of plagiarism or infringement, please contact admin@php.cn

Previous article：Why Does a Parent Div Collapse to Zero Height When Containing Floated Children?Next article：Why Does a Parent Div Collapse to Zero Height When Containing Floated Children?

See more

When Should You Use `` Instead of `` for Inline Layout?

Related articles