📰 HTML <article> Tag — Structuring Independent Content
The <article> tag in HTML is a semantic element introduced in HTML5. It is used to define independent, self-contained pieces of content that could be distributed or reused on their own — such as news articles, blog posts, product cards, or forum threads.
It helps organize content in a meaningful and accessible way for both users and search engines.
📌 What Is the <article> Tag?
The <article> element represents content that can stand on its own, meaning it makes sense even outside the context of the main page. It often contains:
- A title (
<h1>to<h6>) - Author information
- Publication date
- Content (text, images, etc.)
- Metadata (tags, categories)
✅ Basic Syntax
<article>
<h2>How to Learn HTML in 2025</h2>
<p>HTML is the foundation of the web. Here’s how to get started...</p>
</article>
🧱 Common Use Cases
| Use Case | Description |
|---|---|
| 📰 News articles | From a magazine or news site |
| 📝 Blog posts | Blog entries with independent URLs |
| 📦 Product descriptions | When shown on a product page or card |
| 💬 Forum posts/comments | In a discussion or support thread |
| 📄 User-generated content | Like a review or feedback block |
🧪 Example: Blog Page with Multiple Articles
<main>
<article>
<h2>Top 5 CSS Tricks</h2>
<p>CSS lets you style HTML like magic. Here are 5 tricks...</p>
<footer>
<p>By Jane Doe — June 15, 2025</p>
</footer>
</article>
<article>
<h2>Why Use the <code><article></code> Tag?</h2>
<p>Semantic HTML improves accessibility, SEO, and structure.</p>
</article>
</main>
Each <article> in this example can stand alone if copied to another page or feed.
🎨 Visual Layout Illustration
+----------------------+
| <main> |
| +----------------+ |
| | <article> | |
| | Title | |
| | Content | |
| | <footer> | |
| +----------------+ |
| +----------------+ |
| | <article> | |
| | Title | |
| | Content | |
| +----------------+ |
+----------------------+
🔍 <article> vs <section>
| Feature | <article> | <section> |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Independent content | Thematic grouping of content |
| Standalone | Yes (can be syndicated) | No (part of a document structure) |
| Example Use | Blog post, news item | About section, contact info |
| Can Contain | Headings, sections, footers, etc. | Headings, paragraphs, lists, etc. |
✅ Use <article> when the content makes sense on its own.
🧠 SEO and Accessibility Benefits
- Search engines treat
<article>as important structured content. - Screen readers can navigate articles as distinct blocks.
- Aids in rich snippets and structured data for blog posts, news, etc.
🏁 Summary
The <article> tag is a powerful semantic tool for defining independent pieces of web content. It brings structure, clarity, and SEO benefits to your HTML documents — especially on blogs, news sites, and content-rich platforms.