You might see <hr> Element reference while reading someone else’s HTML, or need it while building a page of your own. Instead of memorizing a definition, look at a working example and see when the element makes sense.
The Idea in Plain English
Represents a thematic shift between sections. It is not simply a decorative line in the page layout.
For a reference page, pay attention to where the element is allowed, whether it needs a closing tag, and what other elements it can contain.
A Working Example
Read the sample once before copying it. Notice the element names and attribute values, then compare them with the explanation below.
<p>Morning activities are now complete.</p>
<hr>
<p>Afternoon activities begin here.</p>What Each Part Does
- The hr element represents a thematic break.
- A paragraph keeps one idea together as readable text.
A thematic break separates the two parts.
Try It Yourself
Try replacing the example content with your own while keeping the valid HTML structure.
Common Beginner Mistakes
- Inserting hr wherever you want a border purely for decoration.
- Changing several parts of the example at once, making it difficult to see which part caused a different result.
- Choosing a tag only because its default appearance looks right, without checking whether it describes the content correctly.
Key Takeaways
- Represents a thematic shift between sections. It is not simply a decorative line in the page layout.
- A thematic break separates the two parts.
- Test the markup in a browser, and check accessibility and real-world behavior where relevant.