New Elements in HTML5
The internet has changed a lot since HTML 4.01 became a standard in 1999.
Today, some elements in HTML 4.01 are obsolete, never used, or not used the way they were intended to. These elements are removed or re-written in HTML5.
To better handle today’s internet use, HTML5 includes new elements for better structure, better form handling, drawing, and for media content.
New Semantic/Structural Elements
HTML5 offers new elements for better structure:
| Tag | Description |
|---|---|
| <article> | Defines an article |
| <aside> | Defines content aside from the page content |
| <bdi> | Isolates a part of text that might be formatted in a different direction from other text outside it |
| <command> | Defines a command button that a user can invoke |
| <details> | Defines additional details that the user can view or hide |
| <summary> | Defines a visible heading for a <details> element |
| <figure> | Specifies self-contained content, like illustrations, diagrams, photos, code listings, etc. |
| <figcaption> | Defines a caption for a <figure> element |
| <footer> | Defines a footer for a document or section |
| <header> | Defines a header for a document or section |
| <hgroup> | Groups a set of <h1> to <h6> elements when a heading has multiple levels |
| <mark> | Defines marked/highlighted text |
| <meter> | Defines a scalar measurement within a known range (a gauge) |
| <nav> | Defines navigation links |
| <progress> | Represents the progress of a task |
| <ruby> | Defines a ruby annotation (for East Asian typography) |
| <rt> | Defines an explanation/pronunciation of characters (for East Asian typography) |
| <rp> | Defines what to show in browsers that do not support ruby annotations |
| <section> | Defines a section in a document |
| <time> | Defines a date/time |
| <wbr> | Defines a possible line-break |
New Media Elements
HTML5 offers new elements for media content:
| Tag | Description |
|---|---|
| <audio> | Defines sound content |
| <video> | Defines a video or movie |
| <source> | Defines multiple media resources for <video> and <audio> |
| <embed> | Defines a container for an external application or interactive content (a plug-in) |
| <track> | Defines text tracks for <video> and <audio> |
The new <canvas> Element
| Tag | Description |
|---|---|
| <canvas> | Used to draw graphics, on the fly, via scripting (usually JavaScript) |
New Form Elements
HTML5 offers new form elements, for more functionality:
| Tag | Description |
|---|---|
| <datalist> | Specifies a list of pre-defined options for input controls |
| <keygen> | Defines a key-pair generator field (for forms) |
| <output> | Defines the result of a calculation |
Removed Elements
The following HTML 4.01 elements are removed from HTML5:
- <acronym>
- <applet>
- <basefont>
- <big>
- <center>
- <dir>
- <font>
- <frame>
- <frameset>
- <noframes>
- <strike>
- <tt>