Comparison of class, div, span, and id in HTML

Here's a table summarizing the key differences between class, div, span, and id in HTML:

Feature class div span id
Type Attribute Element Element Attribute
Purpose Assigns a style name Creates a block-level Groups inline content Uniquely identifies an
to an element container and applies inline styles element
Content Type N/A Blocks (starts on a new line) Inline (flows with N/A
Style Impact Used in CSS selectors Can be styled with CSS Can be styled with CSS Can be styled with CSS
Multiple Instances Yes (one element can Yes (multiple divs can Yes (multiple spans can No (only one element can
have multiple classes) exist on a page) exist on a page) have a specific id)
Common Use Cases Styling groups of Sections, headers, footers, Highlighting text, Targeting specific elements
elements main content areas, etc. applying inline styles for actions (e.g., buttons)

Additional Notes:

  • class: You can add multiple classes to an element separated by spaces, allowing for more complex styling combinations.
  • div: While div adds some space by default, you can use CSS to remove the margins and padding for a more flexible layout.
  • span: Unlike div, span does not create a new line and flows with surrounding content.
  • id: An element can only have one unique id attribute within a document. This is useful for targeting specific elements with JavaScript or for creating named anchors for linking within a page.

Choosing the Right Element:

  • Use class when you want to define a style that can be applied to multiple elements.
  • Use div when you need to create a distinct section with its own space and potentially containing other elements.
  • Use span when you want to group a small portion of inline content and apply specific styles to that part without affecting the layout.
  • Use id when you need to uniquely identify an element for specific styling, targeting in JavaScript, or creating named anchors.