This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Irene Osano
INTRODUCTION
Semantic HTML refers to using HTML markup that conveys the meaning or purpose of content, rather than just its appearance.By using elements that define their purpose, creators can create more meaningful and organized code, which improves significantly search engine optimization (SEO) and accessibility for users with disabilities.
Ways In Which Semantic HTML Tags Improve Indexing and Search Engine Crawling.
1.Content understanding and prioritisation:Tags such as header, main and footer clearly define the purpose and role of different content blocks for easy identification by the search engine crawlers and indexing of the most important part of a page.
2.Enhanced relevance for keywords:The use of semantic elements with relevant tags enables a search engine to accurately determine the topic of a page and its relevance to the user’s queries leading to better ranking and matching.
3.Hierarchical structural interpretation:Semantic heading tags such as h1 to h2 establishes clear subheadings which helps search engines to know the relationship between different sections and the overall topic of a page.
How Semantic HTML Enhances Accessibility and User Experience.
1.Improved accessibility:As semantic HTML elements are exposed to technologies such as screen readers, they make web content more accessible to users with visual impairments, allowing them to navigate easily across a page.
2.ARIA compatibility:Elements used by semantic HTML reduces the need for the excessive use of ARIA which can sometimes be complex or error-prone.
Types of Accessibility Testing Methodologies
1.Manual testing:This includes human evaluation by checking for logical focus order, the usability of dynamic content and how well screen readers interact with the content.
2.Automated testing:Software tools such as the axe DevTools are used to scan web pages for common accessibility failures such as improper semantic structures.It is efficient for catching repetitive issues but cannot detect complex barriers.
3.User feedback(User testing):This is involving people with disabilities to provide real-world feedback on the product’s accessibility. Their insights are crucial for identifying usability issues and ensuring the product truly serves all users.
The Four Principles of WCAG.
1.Understandable:Information and the operation of the user interface must be written using a clear and predictable navigation method which can also be used to identify the purpose of links easily.
2.Perceivable:Content must be presentable to users in ways they can easily notice.This can be done by providing text alternatives for non-text content(like images), captions for videos and ensuring sufficient color contrast for text.
3.Robust:This means that content must be compatible with current and future assistive technologies and is well-structured so it can be parsed correctly.
4.Operable:By ensuring all functionality is avavilable from a keyboard, providing enough time to read and use content and avoiding content that can cause seizures makes it easy for the user to get a hold of information.
Code Examples with Before and After Comparisons.
Non-Semantic HTML
`DOCTYPE html`
`body`
`div`
`span`My Website`/span`
`div`
`a href="#home"`Home/a`
`a href="#about"`About`/a`
`a href="#contact"`Contact`/a`
`/div`
`/div`
`div`
`div`
`div`Welcome to My Website`/div`
`/div`
`div`
`div`This is the main content of my website.`/div`
`/div`
`/div`
`div`
`span`©2025 My Website`/span`
`/div`
`/body`
Semantic HTML
`header`
`h1`My Website`/h1`
`nav`
`ul`
`li``a href="#"`Home`/a``/li`
`li``a href="#"`About`/a``/li`
`li``a href="#"`Contact`/a``/li`
`/ul`
`/nav`
`/header`
`main`
`h2`Welcome to My Website`/h2`
`p`This is the main content of my website.`/p`
`/main`
`footer`
`p`©'2025 My Website`/p`
`/footer`
Common HTML Mistakes To Avoid for Better Code Quality.
As the backbone of the web, it is essential for a web developer to master HTML. However, even the most experienced developers make mistakes when coding in HTML. Here are some of the mistakes and how to do away with them:
1.Improper Nesting.
This occurs when HTML tags are not properly nested within each other which leads to broken layouts.The only solution to this is properly nesting all HTML tags within each other.
2.Not Using Semantic HTML Tags.
Semantic HTML tags convey the meaning of content rather than just its appearance, therefore not using semantic HTML makes a code harder to read and understand. To avoid this, make sure to use appropriate HTML tags to convey the meaning of your content.
3.Overusing or Misusing Divs.
Divs are a powerful tool for creating layouts in HTML but overusing or misusing them can make you code harder to maintain and understand.The use of divs sparingly and only when they are needed to group related content is the most effective way of avoiding this mistake.
4.Using Deprecated Tags.
New versions of HTML are released over time. Using such tags can cause compatibility issues and may not be spported by modern wen browsers.To avoid this mistake, make sure to use the latest version ****of HTML and avoid using deprecated tags.
5.Unorganised HTML Code.
Not organising your HTML code can make it harder to maintain and understand. By thee use of indentation, line breaks and comments to organise your HTML makes your work easily readable.
Key Aspects of Performance Impact Analysis.
a)Tracking Key Metrics
– Organic traffic:The number of visitors coming from search engine.
– Bounce rate:The amount of visitors leaving your page after viewing only one page.
– Click-Through Rate(CTR):The percentage of users who click on your search result after seeing it.
– Keyword rankings:How your website ranks for specific search items.
– Conversion rate:The amount of visitors who complete a desired action by making a purchase.
b)Analysing Data For Insights.
– Identifying strengths and weaknesses:Understand what works well and where your strategy needs strengthening.
– Evaluate content performance:See how well your content attracts users and keeps them engaged.
– Understand traffic sources:Determine which channels are most effective at bringing organic traffic to your site.
c)Driving Strategy and Improvement.
– Refine SEO strategies:Make targeted adjustments to keyboard strategies.
– Prioritise areas for improvement:Focus efforts on the aspects of your sites that will yield the greatest impact.
– Benchmark against competitors:Understand how ur performance stacks up against competitors in you industry.
Real World Implementation of Semantic HTML.
Semantic HTML is used in the presentation of projects.
Semantic HTML can be used to define article structures.
Semantic HTML is used to present blogs and news websites.
Semantic HTML is often used in E-Commerce sites for product information, related products or advertisements.
Troubleshooting Common Semantic HTML Issues.
Overuse or Inappropriate Use of Semantic Elements:
Applying semantic tags excessively or without clear semantic meaning can be corrected by the use of CSS for styling and reserving semantic tags for conveying structural and contextual meaning.
Neglecting Accessibility Attributes:
Neglecting Semantic HTML attributes such as alt and aria-label can hinder accessibility.To ensure all relevant attributes are present and accurately describing the elements’ purposes for assistive tech, accessibility audits are conducted.
Browser Compatibility Issues:
Older browsers might not fully support newer HTML5 Semantic tags leading to rendering inconsistencies.The use of polyfills or graceful strategies are recommended for older browsers, however modern wen standards are prioritised.
Lack of Clear Document Structure:
If an overall document structure lacks logical flow or clear hierarchy, it makes navigation difficult for users and search engines.Proper planning of the document’s architecture before coding ensures the use of Semantic elements to reinforce the structure of the content.
Conclusion
Semantic HTML is a way of using HTML coding to create or enhance the structure of a page. It provides structural meaning of the content on a code of a web page.
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Irene Osano