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HTML structure is the way elements organize content and identify its role—not just a set of boxes for CSS. Use semantic elements such as main, nav, article, section, and aside when their meaning fits; use div for a generic grouping with no more specific role.

What is HTML structure?

An HTML document is organized into elements that wrap content. Those elements can describe what the content is and how it relates to surrounding content. Browsers use markup to interpret a page, and assistive technologies can use semantic structure to help people navigate it. CSS controls visual presentation, but styling alone does not communicate every content relationship. See MDN’s guide to structuring documents and the W3C’s explanation of semantic elements and page structure.

For example, a group of links may look like a menu whether it is marked up as navigation or as generic containers. A nav element identifies that group as navigation; visual resemblance by itself does not.

Which HTML container should you use?

Choose an element by the content’s role, not by how you want it to look. Consider whether the content stands on its own, forms a distinct theme, or should be identifiable as a page region. The W3C page-structure tutorial and MDN HTML elements reference describe these semantic roles.

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article A self-contained composition that could stand on its own outside the page’s immediate context. A blog post, news story, or forum post.
section A thematic grouping of related content that is not better represented by a more specific element. A chapter or a distinct topic within a longer page.
aside Content related to the surrounding content but secondary to it. A related-links panel or sidebar note.
div A generic grouping when no specific semantic element fits, including a wrapper used only for styling or scripting. A layout wrapper around several elements.

What is the difference between section and article?

An article is intended to be a self-contained composition: its meaning can remain clear if it is reused or separated from the page around it. A section groups content around a theme, usually as part of a larger whole. A page can contain multiple sections, and an article can contain sections that organize its own topics.

Ask whether the content is a complete composition or a thematic part of something larger. A post with its own title and content is a reasonable article; a titled “Setup” chapter within that post is typically a section. The elements describe different relationships, not different visual styles.

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When should you use a div instead of a section?

Use div when you need a container but the content has no more specific semantic role. It is also suitable when a group exists only to support CSS layout or a script. Use section when the grouped content forms a distinct thematic part of the document; it will generally need a heading that identifies that theme. The W3C’s guidance on the section element cautions against choosing it merely as a styling hook.

A practical test: if you cannot name the theme of the group or give it a useful heading, a generic div may be the clearer choice. Do not replace a more specific element with either one when the content has a defined role, such as navigation.

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Do sections and other semantic elements create accessibility landmarks?

Not automatically. Landmark exposure depends on the element and its semantics. In particular, W3C WAI explains that a section needs an accessible name to be exposed as a landmark region. A heading can provide that name when correctly associated with the section, but do not assume every section becomes a landmark just because it uses that tag. See W3C WAI technique H101.

H101 also clarifies the status of its recommendations: “Techniques are examples of ways to meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). They are not required to meet WCAG.” Treat the technique as guidance for semantic markup, not as a standalone mandatory rule.

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How should headings express page structure?

Headings communicate the outline of the content and let assistive-technology users navigate by topic. Choose heading levels to express the parent-and-child relationships between sections, then use CSS to adjust their appearance. Do not select an h1, h2, or other level merely because its default font size looks right. W3C WAI’s H69 technique discusses providing heading elements at the beginning of content sections.

For instance, a page title can be the top-level heading, with major topics beneath it and subordinate topics nested under the relevant major topic. The visual design may change; the logical hierarchy should still make sense.

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A simple workflow for structuring a page

  1. Outline the content. Identify the page’s main purpose, major themes, self-contained compositions, and secondary material before choosing wrappers.
  2. Assign semantic roles. Use main for dominant page content, nav for navigation, article for standalone compositions, section for thematic groups, and aside for related secondary content.
  3. Add headings that show hierarchy. Make the levels reflect the outline, and use CSS for visual styling.
  4. Use div only for the remaining generic grouping. If no specific semantic meaning fits, or the wrapper exists only for layout or scripting, div is appropriate.

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