HTML5 new tags / elements

New Elements in HTML5

The internet has changed a lot since HTML 4.01 became a standard in 1999.

Today, some elements in HTML 4.01 are obsolete, never used, or not used the way they were intended to. These elements are removed or re-written in HTML5.

To better handle today’s internet use, HTML5 includes new elements for better structure, better form handling, drawing, and for media content.


New Semantic/Structural Elements

HTML5 offers new elements for better structure:

Tag Description
<article> Defines an article
<aside> Defines content aside from the page content
<bdi> Isolates a part of text that might be formatted in a different direction from other text outside it
<command> Defines a command button that a user can invoke
<details> Defines additional details that the user can view or hide
<summary> Defines a visible heading for a <details> element
<figure> Specifies self-contained content, like illustrations, diagrams, photos, code listings, etc.
<figcaption> Defines a caption for a <figure> element
<footer> Defines a footer for a document or section
<header> Defines a header for a document or section
<hgroup> Groups a set of <h1> to <h6> elements when a heading has multiple levels
<mark> Defines marked/highlighted text
<meter> Defines a scalar measurement within a known range (a gauge)
<nav> Defines navigation links
<progress> Represents the progress of a task
<ruby> Defines a ruby annotation (for East Asian typography)
<rt> Defines an explanation/pronunciation of characters (for East Asian typography)
<rp> Defines what to show in browsers that do not support ruby annotations
<section> Defines a section in a document
<time> Defines a date/time
<wbr> Defines a possible line-break

New Media Elements

HTML5 offers new elements for media content:

Tag Description
<audio> Defines sound content
<video> Defines a video or movie
<source> Defines multiple media resources for <video> and <audio>
<embed> Defines a container for an external application or interactive content (a plug-in)
<track> Defines text tracks for <video> and <audio>

The new <canvas> Element

Tag Description
<canvas> Used to draw graphics, on the fly, via scripting (usually JavaScript)

New Form Elements

HTML5 offers new form elements, for more functionality:

Tag Description
<datalist> Specifies a list of pre-defined options for input controls
<keygen> Defines a key-pair generator field (for forms)
<output> Defines the result of a calculation

Removed Elements

The following HTML 4.01 elements are removed from HTML5:

  • <acronym>
  • <applet>
  • <basefont>
  • <big>
  • <center>
  • <dir>
  • <font>
  • <frame>
  • <frameset>
  • <noframes>
  • <strike>
  • <tt>

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