What is Semantic HTML?
Using HTML elements according to their meaning—nav, article, button—so browsers, search engines, and assistive tech understand page structure.
Definition
Semantic HTML means choosing elements for what they mean, not how they look: <nav> for navigation, <main> for primary content, <button> for actions, <table> for tabular data. Semantics give screen readers a navigable outline, give search engines structural signals, and give developers built-in behavior—form validation, focus management, Enter/Space activation—that a styled <div> must reimplement in JavaScript. A single correct heading hierarchy (one <h1>, no skipped levels) is one of the highest-leverage accessibility wins. Landmark elements also enable reader modes and browser features like Chrome's automatic dark theming to work reliably.