Common HTML Tags and Their Meanings

Basic Structure Tags

<!DOCTYPE html>: Declares the document as an HTML5 document.
<html>: The root element of an HTML page.
<head>: Contains metadata about the document.
<title>: Sets the title of the webpage.
<body>: Contains the visible content.
<div>: Generic container for grouping.
<style>: Embeds CSS styles.

Text Content Tags

<h1> to <h6>: Headings (importance levels).
<p>: Represents a paragraph.
<span>: Inline container for text.
<b>: Bolds text.
<i>: Italicizes text.
<u>: Underlines text.
<br>: Inserts a line break.

Lists

<ul>: Unordered list (bullet points).
<ol>: Ordered list (numbered).
<li>: List item.
<dl>: Description list.
<dt>: Term in a description list.
<dd>: Description in a description list.

Links and Images

<a>: Creates a hyperlink.
<img>: Embeds an image.

Tables

<table>: Creates a table.
<tr>: Defines a table row.
<th>: Defines a table header cell.
<td>: Defines a table data cell.
<caption>: Provides a caption for the table.

Forms

<form>: Creates a form for user input.
<input>: Various types of input fields.
<label>: Provides a label for an input field.
<button>: Creates a clickable button.
<select>: Creates a dropdown list.
<option>: Defines an option in a dropdown.
<textarea>: Multi-line text input area.

Semantic Structure Tags (HTML5)

<header>: Header content of a page/section.
<nav>: Section of navigation links.
<main>: Main content of the document.
<article>: Self-contained piece of content.
<section>: Thematic grouping of content.
<aside>: Tangentially related content.
<footer>: Footer content of a page/section.

Media Tags

<audio>: Embeds audio content.
<video>: Embeds video content.
<source>: Specifies media resources for <audio> and <video>.
<track>: Provides subtitles, captions, or other text tracks for media.

Embedded Content

<iframe>: Embeds another HTML document within the current page.
<object>: Embeds external content (e.g., Flash, PDF).
<embed>: Embeds external content (deprecated).

Scripting and Data

<script>: Embeds or references JavaScript code.
<noscript>: Provides alternative content for browsers without JavaScript.
<canvas>: Drawing area for graphics (via JavaScript).
<svg>: Embeds scalable vector graphics.
<template>: Defines a template for client-side content rendering.

Other Elements

<address>: Contact information.
<blockquote>: Quoted section.
<cite>: Title of a creative work.
<details>: Disclosure widget (show/hide content).
<summary>: Heading for disclosed content (within <details>).
<mark>: Highlights text.
<time>: Represents a date and/or time.
<progress>: Represents progress of a task.
<meter>: Represents a scalar measurement.