HTML reference

html

The <html> element is the root of an HTML document. Every other HTML element belongs inside it, usually split into <head> and <body>.

What you will learn

Why <html> is the document root
What the lang and dir attributes do
How head and body fit inside it

Basic structure

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
  <head>
    <title>Page title</title>
  </head>
  <body>
    <h1>Visible content</h1>
  </body>
</html>

Useful attributes

lang: Declares the main language of the document, such as en or ja. This helps screen readers and other tools choose pronunciation and language rules.
dir: Sets text direction: ltr, rtl, or auto. It is useful for right-to-left languages.

Remember

Put metadata in <head> and visible page content in <body>. Set an accurate lang value instead of leaving the document language unknown.

Related pages