What is semantice HTML?
Semantic HTML is HTML that introduces meaning to the web page rather than just presentation. Semantic HTML is important in conveying meaning through your site and effectively communicating with your audience, which should be the driving goal of your page. Semantics aid communication by simply providing more information. This information supports accessibilty, as it makes the site more user friendly and available to a wider audience with varying devices and digital comfort levels.
Some Examples of Semantic HTML Tags:
- <abbr> : Abbreviation
- <acronym> : Acronym
- <blockquote> : Long Quotation
- <cite> : Citation
Examples of Tags that are NOT Semantic (they only define how the text should looks, they do not provide meaning to the markup):
- <b> : Bold
- <i>>: Italics
Semantic HTML and Section 508
Any individual or organization creating a site that receives Federal Funding in the United States needs to comply with Section 508 guilines. These guidelines ensure that the electronic information and technology are available to people with disabilities.
Semantic mark-up becomes very important when dealing with accessibility and guidlines in place to make site usability as accessible as possible. Semantic HTML tags give more structure to the website which makes the page easier to navigate. They allow an accurate description of the type of content within them, making the information readable in a human and machine way.