The <br> HTML element is used to insert a line break in a block of text, allowing content to continue on the next line. It is a void element, meaning it does not have a closing tag. The <br> tag is particularly useful for formatting text where line breaks are necessary, such as in addresses, poems, or any other content where the natural flow of text should be interrupted without starting a new paragraph.
The <br> element should be used sparingly and only when the line break is semantically appropriate. Overusing <br> for layout purposes is discouraged, as it can lead to accessibility issues and make the HTML code harder to maintain. Instead, CSS should be used for controlling layout and spacing. Here is an example of how the <br> tag can be used:
<p>Line one.<br>Line two.<br>Line three.</p>Valid Attributes for <br>
The <br> element does not have any specific attributes of its own, but it supports all global attributes. These include:
| Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
| class | Specifies one or more class names for the element, used for CSS styling. |
| id | Defines a unique identifier for the element, useful for JavaScript and CSS. |
| style | Contains inline CSS styles for the element. |
| title | Provides additional information about the element, often displayed as a tooltip. |
In summary, the <br> element is a simple yet effective tool for inserting line breaks in text content where necessary. It should be used judiciously to maintain semantic clarity and accessibility, with CSS being the preferred method for managing layout and spacing in most cases.