<br>: The BR Element
Last updated: 2026-10-13
<br>The BR Element
The <br> (line break) element inserts a line break in text. It's a void element for poems, addresses, etc. Don't use it for paragraph spacing — use CSS margins instead.
| Category | Text Content |
|---|---|
| Content Model | None (void element) |
| Allowed Parents | Any element that accepts phrasing content |
| Content Tag | Self-closing — no closing tag needed |
| Status | Standard |
📝 Syntax
First line<br>Second line▶ Example
Edit the code below and see the live result in the playground:
🌐 Browser Support
| Browser |  Chrome |
 Edge |
 Firefox |
 Safari |
 Opera |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| <br> | ✓ v1 | ✓ v12 | ✓ v1 | ✓ v1 | ✓ v1 |
| Supported in all major browsers | |||||
Warning： Avoid stacking multiple <br> elements for large gaps; use CSS margin/padding instead.
❓ FAQ
QWhat is the difference between br and p?
A
<br> is an inline line break within the same paragraph; <p> starts a new paragraph with margins and paragraph semantics. Use <br> for forced breaks inside one semantic unit (addresses, poetry), and <p> for actual paragraphs.QIs it OK to use several br in a row?
ANot recommended.
<br><br> to create visual spacing is abuse — spacing is a layout job for CSS margins. Stacked br elements also make screen readers announce fragmented content, hurting accessibility.QIs br a void element and how should it be written?
AYes, it is a void element with no end tag. In HTML just write
<br>; the XHTML-style <br /> is legal but unnecessary. It only takes global attributes, most often paired with aria-hidden for decorative breaks.🏷️ Related Tags
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📚 Related Tutorials
