The <main> tag is an HTML5 element that represents the primary content of a web page. It is designed to contain the main content of a page, such as articles, blog posts, or any other content that is unique to that page. The <main> tag is used to provide a clear indication of what the main content of a page is and helps improve accessibility for users of assistive technologies. In this tutorial, we’ll take a closer look at the <main> tag and how it can be used to structure web pages.
Syntax
The <main> tag is a simple HTML5 element that can be added to any web page using the following syntax:
<main>
<!– main content goes here –>
</main>
Usage
The <main> tag is typically used to wrap the primary content of a web page. This includes content that is unique to that page and is not shared across other pages on the same site. For example, if you have a blog post, the <main> tag would wrap the article’s content, including any images or multimedia elements.
One of the key benefits of using the <main> tag is that it helps improve the accessibility of your web pages. Screen readers and other assistive technologies can use the <main> tag to identify the primary content of a page, making it easier for users to navigate and understand the structure of the page.
Another benefit of using the <main> tag is that it can help improve the SEO (search engine optimization) of your website. Search engines like Google and Bing use the <main> tag to identify the main content of a page, which can help them better understand and index your site’s content.
Best Practices
When using the <main> tag, there are a few best practices that you should follow to ensure that your web pages are structured correctly and accessible to all users:
1. Only use one <main> tag per page. The <main> tag should only be used once on each page to wrap the primary content. If you have multiple sections of primary content, consider using multiple <main> tags or a different HTML element such as <section> or <article>.
2. Make sure the <main> tag is located in the correct place in the HTML document. The <main> tag should be located after the <header> element and before the <footer> element. This helps ensure that the primary content of your page is clearly separated from other page elements, such as navigation or sidebar content.
3. Use other HTML elements to further structure your content. The <main> tag should be used to wrap the primary content of your page, but you should also use other HTML elements such as <section> and <article> to further structure your content. This helps make your page more readable and accessible to all users.
Conclusion
The <main> tag is a simple HTML5 element that can greatly improve the accessibility and structure of your web pages. By using the <main> tag to wrap the primary content of your pages, you can help assistive technologies and search engines better understand and navigate your site’s content. Make sure to follow best practices when using the <main> tag to ensure that your web pages are structured correctly and accessible to all users.
