Different systems commonly use LF or CRLF to end lines in text files. Editors usually handle both, and HTML browsers treat them in equivalent ways for ordinary text layout.
What You Need to Know
Choose a consistent format for your project so code reviews and version history are clean. Changing line endings should not change visible paragraph breaks.
The goal is not to collect as many tags as possible. Pick the element that best describes what the content really is.
Example: See It in Action
Try this markup in a fresh practice file. The next section explains the parts worth paying attention to.
This is a short HTML fragment. To try it as a webpage, put it inside the body element of a complete HTML document.
<p>First line</p>
<p>Second line</p>
<!-- Save your file with UTF-8 and consistent line endings. -->Let’s Understand the Example
- A p groups a paragraph of related text. Start another paragraph for a new thought.
Look for the text “First line” in the page. If the visible result surprises you, inspect the rendered elements to see what the browser actually built.
What Should You See?
The page should include “First line”. If it looks different from what you expected, open developer tools and compare the source with the elements the browser created.
Try removing one piece of markup in a scratch copy, refresh the page, and compare the behavior. This is often the fastest way to understand what that piece contributes.
Try It Yourself
- Switch the editor's line ending setting, save, and see whether the displayed page changes.
- Save your changes, open or refresh the page, and compare the result with the original example.
- Tell a friend what your change did. If you are not sure, undo it, refresh the page, and compare.
Common Beginner Mistakes
- Using line endings in the source as a substitute for HTML paragraphs and line breaks.
- Avoid picking tags just for their default bold, italic or spaced appearance. Use CSS for presentation.
Key Takeaways
- Different systems commonly use LF or CRLF to end lines in text files.
- A p groups a paragraph of related text. Start another paragraph for a new thought.
- Choose a consistent format for your project so code reviews and version history are clean. Changing line endings should not change visible paragraph breaks.