You might see <mark> 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
Highlights text relevant to the current context, such as matching search words. It does not automatically mean that the text is urgent.
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>Search results for <mark>astronomy</mark> are shown below.</p>What Each Part Does
- The mark element highlights text relevant to the current context.
- A paragraph keeps one idea together as readable text.
The matching word is highlighted with its semantic purpose.
Try It Yourself
Try replacing the example content with your own while keeping the valid HTML structure.
Common Beginner Mistakes
- Using mark solely as a decorative background color.
- 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
- Highlights text relevant to the current context, such as matching search words. It does not automatically mean that the text is urgent.
- The matching word is highlighted with its semantic purpose.
- Test the markup in a browser, and check accessibility and real-world behavior where relevant.