A br creates a meaningful line break without starting a new paragraph, such as in an address or poem.
What You Need to Know
For unrelated thoughts, separate paragraphs are easier to read and navigate. br is a void element and does not have a closing tag.
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
Take a look at this small piece of HTML. You can use it in a practice document and change the text to make it your own.
This is a short HTML fragment. To try it as a webpage, put it inside the body element of a complete HTML document.
<address>
Student Club<br>
Room 204<br>
Main Building
</address>Let’s Understand the Example
- A br starts a new line within the same thought, useful in addresses or verse; it is not a spacing tool.
- Address contains contact details for the nearest relevant page or article author.
Look for the text “Student Club” 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 “Student Club”. 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
- Rewrite an address with line breaks, then try it as separate paragraphs.
- 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 a dozen br elements to make vertical space.
- Avoid picking tags just for their default bold, italic or spaced appearance. Use CSS for presentation.
Key Takeaways
- A br creates a meaningful line break without starting a new paragraph, such as in an address or poem.
- A br starts a new line within the same thought, useful in addresses or verse; it is not a spacing tool.
- For unrelated thoughts, separate paragraphs are easier to read and navigate. br is a void element and does not have a closing tag.