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HTML HTML Basics Getting Started with HTML Creating Links

Stavros Sofroniadis
PLUS
Stavros Sofroniadis
Courses Plus Student 1,503 Points

Differences between <section> and <article> tag

Dear Friends,

if you could mention the differences between <section> and <article> tag & in which cases do we use each one.

If could mention an example would be better,

Thank You,

2 Answers

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,198 Points

The "section" is more generic. According to my favorite reference, MDN, the <section> element:

...represents a standalone section — which doesn't have a more specific semantic element to represent it — contained within an HTML document. Typically, but not always, sections have a heading.

And the <article> element:

...represents a self-contained composition in a document, page, application, or site, which is intended to be independently distributable or reusable (e.g., in syndication). Examples include: a forum post, a magazine or newspaper article, or a blog entry.

Check the actual MDN pages (linked) for more details.

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,198 Points

I'm curious about the down-vote. Would the person who placed that vote please leave a comment explaining what you found wrong with my answer, and what I might do to improve it? Thanks!

Stavros Sofroniadis
PLUS
Stavros Sofroniadis
Courses Plus Student 1,503 Points

Thank You,

Regarding "section" it is used to group similar content. For instance, we may have a sport section in a news chanel, inside sport section we may have divided into smaller sections for:1)Basketball, Football,3)Voleyball etc

While "article" is considered an indepedantable part of the site that represent a specific topic about,

For instance in a news channel, an article will be considered an analysis of previous day basketball game between 2 teams. Its a specific analysis of how one team defeat the 2nd team - and thats all

While in a "section" is more broader concept,

Mention if am correct about the above,

Can we use an <article> tag inside a <section> tag or vice versa?