INFO: The Difference Between the <DIV> and <SPAN> HTML Tags

 Last reviewed: February 9, 1998
Article ID: Q180153
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer (Programming), versions 4.0, 4.01
  • Internet Client SDK, versions 4.0, 4.01

SUMMARY

This article describes the difference between the <DIV> and <SPAN> HTML tags, which are available in Internet Explorer 4.0x.

MORE INFORMATION

The <DIV> tag is a block element used for creating a container to hold and position other elements. It is commonly used for absolute positioning of content.

The <SPAN> tag is an inline element used to render text using a style sheet. It is commonly used to change the style of an element or text within a sentence or block such as <P>, <DIV> or <TABLE>.

Because the <SPAN> tag cannot create a line break, the following HTML will not behave as expected: 

   <HTML>
   <HEAD>
      <SCRIPT>
         function DoStuff()
         {
            txt.innerHTML = "<UL><LI>It worked</UL>";
         }
      </SCRIPT>
   </HEAD>
   <BODY>
      <P>
         <SPAN ID=txt>HTML<b> to be</b> replaced</SPAN>
      </P>

      <A HREF="javascript:DoStuff()">Click Me</A>
   </BODY>
   </HTML>
This use of the innerHTML property will succeed if you replace the <SPAN> tag pair with <DIV>.

REFERENCES

Internet Client SDK Help:

http://www.microsoft.com/msdn/sdk/inetsdk/help/ 

Keywords          : AXSDKIESripting kbfaq
Technology        : kbInetDev internet
Version           : WINDOWS:4.0,4.01
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbinfo

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Last reviewed: February 9, 1998
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