Web/HTML/Element/div

From Get docs


The HTML Content Division element (<div>) is the generic container for flow content. It has no effect on the content or layout until styled using CSS.


The source for this interactive example is stored in a GitHub repository. If you'd like to contribute to the interactive examples project, please clone https://github.com/mdn/interactive-examples and send us a pull request.

As a "pure" container, the <div> element does not inherently represent anything. Instead, it's used to group content so it can be easily styled using the class or id attributes, marking a section of a document as being written in a different language (using the lang attribute), and so on.

Content categories Flow content, palpable content.
Permitted content Flow content.

Or (in WHATWG HTML): If the parent is a <dl> element: one or more <dt> elements followed by one or more <dd> elements, optionally intermixed with <script> and <template> elements.

Tag omission None, both the starting and ending tag are mandatory.
Permitted parents Any element that accepts flow content.

Or (in WHATWG HTML): <dl> element.

Implicit ARIA role No corresponding role
Permitted ARIA roles Any
DOM interface HTMLDivElement

Attributes

This element includes the global attributes.

Note: The align attribute is obsolete; do not use it anymore. Instead, you should use CSS properties or techniques such as CSS Grid or CSS Flexbox to align and position <div> elements on the page.


Usage notes

  • The <div> element should be used only when no other semantic element (such as <article> or <nav>) is appropriate.

Examples

A simple example

<div>
  <p>Any kind of content here. Such as
  &lt;p&gt;, &lt;table&gt;. You name it!</p>
</div>

The result looks like this:

A styled example

This example creates a shadowed box by applying a style to the <div> using CSS. Note the use of the class attribute on the <div> to apply the style named "shadowbox" to the element.

HTML

<div class="shadowbox">
  <p>Here's a very interesting note displayed in a
  lovely shadowed box.</p>
</div>

CSS

.shadowbox {
  width: 15em;
  border: 1px solid #333;
  box-shadow: 8px 8px 5px #444;
  padding: 8px 12px;
  background-image: linear-gradient(180deg, #fff, #ddd 40%, #ccc);
}

Result

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
HTML Living StandardThe definition of '<div>' in that specification. Living Standard No changes since the latest snapshot
HTML5The definition of '<div>' in that specification. Recommendation Obsoleted align
HTML 4.01 SpecificationThe definition of '<div>' in that specification. Recommendation

Browser compatibility

Update compatibility data on GitHub

Desktop Mobile
Chrome Edge Firefox Internet Explorer Opera Safari Android webview Chrome for Android Firefox for Android Opera for Android Safari on iOS Samsung Internet
div Chrome

Full support Yes

Edge

Full support 12

Firefox

Full support 1

IE

Full support Yes

Opera

Full support Yes

Safari

Full support Yes

WebView Android

Full support Yes

Chrome Android

Full support Yes

Firefox Android

Full support 4

Opera Android

Full support Yes

Safari iOS

Full support Yes

Samsung Internet Android

Full support Yes

align

Deprecated'Non-standard'

Chrome

Full support Yes

Edge

Full support 12

Firefox

Full support 1

IE

Full support Yes

Opera

Full support Yes

Safari

Full support Yes

WebView Android

Full support Yes

Chrome Android

Full support Yes

Firefox Android

Full support 4

Opera Android

Full support Yes

Safari iOS

Full support Yes

Samsung Internet Android

Full support Yes

Legend

Full support  
Full support
Non-standard. Expect poor cross-browser support.'
Non-standard. Expect poor cross-browser support.
Deprecated. Not for use in new websites.'
Deprecated. Not for use in new websites.


See also