Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

HTML HTML Basics Structuring Your Content Structuring Content Challenge

Jeff Chow
Jeff Chow
851 Points
Posted by Jeff Chow
Jeff Chow
851 Points

I am not entirely sure when to use <section> or <article>?

I am not entirely sure what constitute as an introductory here as mentioned in the question?

index.html 
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <link href="styles.css" rel="stylesheet">
    <title>My Portfolio</title>
  </head>
  <body>
    <section>
      <ul>
        <li><a href="#">About</a></li>
        <li><a href="#">Work</a></li>
        <li><a href="#">Contact</a></li>            
      </ul>
      <h1>My Web Design &amp; Development Portfolio!</h1> 
      <p>A site featuring my latest work.</p>
        </section>
      <h2>Welcome</h2> 
      <p>Fusce semper id ipsum sed scelerisque. Etiam nec elementum massa. Pellentesque tristique ex ac ipsum hendrerit, eget feugiat ante faucibus.</p>
      <ul>
        <li><a href="#">Recent project #1</a></li>
        <li><a href="#">Recent project #2</a></li>
        <li><a href="#">Recent project #3</a></li>     
      </ul>

    <p>&copy; 2017 My Portfolio</p>
    <p>Follow me on <a href="#">Twitter</a>, <a href="#">Instagram</a> and <a href="#">Dribbble</a></p>
  </body>
</html>
Luke Kennedy
Luke Kennedy
11,661 Points
Luke Kennedy
Luke Kennedy
11,661 Points

Hi Jeff,

For me I normally would use section tag or div tag first then if in that section/div tag, I have an article, forum or blog post I would like to show, then only I would use the article tag which will be INSIDE the section/div tag.

Hope that helps. Luke.

1 Answer

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,248 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,248 Points

The terminology does take a bit of getting used to.

This little "semantic element summary" may help:

  • "a group of introductory content" :point_right: <header>
  • "a major section of navigation" :point_right: <nav>
  • "the main content of the <body> of the page" :point_right: <main>
  • "standalone sections of content" :point_right: <section>
  • "self-contained pieces of content" :point_right: <article>
  • "content that's indirectly related to the main content of the page" :point_right: <aside>
  • "information about the site, copyright data or related links" :point_right: <footer>