HTML reference

nav

The <nav> element marks a major group of navigation links. It gives users and assistive technology a landmark they can find and skip to.

Basic example

<nav aria-label="Primary">
  <ul>
    <li><a href="/">Home</a></li>
    <li><a href="/guides">Guides</a></li>
  </ul>
</nav>

The links should form a meaningful navigation group. The label helps distinguish this region from another navigation, such as a table of contents or footer links.

Do not wrap every link

A single related link or a random list of links does not automatically become navigation. Use nav for major navigation blocks, and use an ordinary list or paragraph for smaller link groups.

Accessibility tips

• Use a concise, unique accessible name when there are multiple navigation landmarks.
• Keep link text descriptive and usable with keyboard navigation.
• Provide a skip link when navigation is repeated across pages.

Related pages

• main
• header
• footer
• a
• English HTML reference