The HTML <div> element (or HTML Document Division Element) is the generic container for flow content, which does not inherently represent anything. It can be used to group elements for styling purposes (using the class or id attributes), or because they share attribute values, such as lang. It should be used only when no other semantic element (such as <article> or <nav>) is appropriate.
| Content categories | Flow content, palpable content. |
|---|---|
| Permitted content | Flow content. |
| Tag omission | None, both the starting and ending tag are mandatory. |
| Permitted parent elements | Any element that accepts flow content. |
| DOM interface | HTMLDivElement |
Attributes
This element includes the global attributes.
The align attribute is obsolete; do not use it anymore.
Examples
<div> <p>Any kind of content here. Such as <p>, <table>. You name it!</p> </div>
Result
Any kind of content here. Such as <p>, <table>. You name it!
Specifications
| Specification | Status | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| WHATWG HTML Living Standard The definition of '<div>' in that specification. |
Living Standard | No changes since the latest snapshot |
| HTML5 The definition of '<div>' in that specification. |
Recommendation | Obsoleted align |
| HTML 4.01 Specification The definition of '<div>' in that specification. |
Recommendation |
Browser compatibility
| Feature | Chrome | Firefox (Gecko) | Internet Explorer | Opera | Safari (WebKit) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic support | 1.0 | (Yes) | (Yes) | (Yes) | (Yes) |
| Feature | Android | Firefox Mobile (Gecko) | IE Phone | Opera Mobile | Safari Mobile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic support | (Yes) | (Yes) | (Yes) | (Yes) | (Yes) |
See also
- Semantic sectioning elements:
<section>,<article>,<nav>,<header>,<footer> <span>element for styling of phrasing content