What is the difference between paired and self-closing HTML tags?
Jun 27, 2025 am 01:54 AMPaired tags have opening and closing tags and wrap content, while self-closing tags do not require a closing tag and do not wrap content. Paired tags like
and
define elements with visible content or structural layout, whereas self-closing tags like <br> or
The difference between paired and self-closing HTML tags comes down to structure and how they’re used in a webpage. Paired tags have both an opening and a closing tag, while self-closing tags only need one tag and don’t wrap around any content.

What Are Paired Tags?
Paired tags are the most common type of HTML tags. They consist of an opening tag like <p></p>
and a closing tag like

For example:
<p>This is a paragraph.</p> <div class="container">Some content here</div>
These tags help browsers understand where an element starts and ends. Without the closing tag, the browser might not render the page correctly.

Use paired tags for elements that:
- Have visible content (like text or images)
- Wrap around other elements
- Need structural clarity in layout
What Are Self-Closing Tags?
Self-closing tags don’t require a separate closing tag because they don’t wrap around content. They are typically used for elements that insert something into the page, like images or line breaks.
Examples include:
<img src="/static/imghw/default1.png" data-src="image.jpg" class="lazy" / alt="What is the difference between paired and self-closing HTML tags?" > <br /> <hr /> <input type="text" />
You may see them written without the slash (<br>
), especially in older code or when using HTML5. But including the slash is good practice if you're working in XHTML or want stricter syntax.
These tags are ideal for:
- Elements that don't contain content
- Inserting media like images or form inputs
- Line breaks and horizontal rules
How Do Browsers Handle Them Differently?
Browsers parse HTML based on tag structure. For paired tags, the browser expects a closing tag to know when the element ends. If it’s missing, the browser tries to guess where it should be — which can lead to unexpected layout issues.
With self-closing tags, the browser knows immediately that the element doesn’t wrap anything. So there's no confusion about where it ends.
A few things to keep in mind:
- Using incorrect syntax can break your layout
- Some tags behave differently depending on doctype
- Validation tools flag improper use
Basically, just remember:
- Use paired tags when wrapping content
- Use self-closing tags for standalone elements
- Keep syntax consistent for cleaner, more predictable code
That’s pretty much it. Not too bad once you get the hang of it.
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