Native HTML Semantics
Native HTML Semantics refers to the use of built-in HTML elements that convey meaning about the structure and content of a web page, rather than just presentation. It involves leveraging elements like <header>, <nav>, <main>, <article>, <section>, and <footer> to define document sections, and semantic text elements like <strong>, <em>, and <cite> to indicate content importance or type. This approach enhances accessibility, SEO, and code maintainability by making the document's purpose clear to browsers, assistive technologies, and developers.
Developers should use native HTML semantics to create accessible and well-structured web pages that work effectively with screen readers and other assistive tools, improving user experience for people with disabilities. It also boosts search engine optimization by helping crawlers understand page content, and it simplifies styling and maintenance through cleaner, more meaningful markup. This is essential for modern web development, especially in projects prioritizing inclusivity, compliance with standards like WCAG, and long-term code scalability.