Self-closing tags in HTML - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is a self-closing tag in HTML?

A self-closing tag is an HTML tag that does not need a separate closing tag. It ends with a slash before the closing angle bracket, like <br />. It is used for elements that don’t wrap any content.

beginner

Give three examples of common self-closing tags in HTML.

Common self-closing tags include:<br>

• <br /> for line breaks
• <img /> for images
• <input /> for form inputs

beginner

Why do self-closing tags not have separate closing tags?

Because these tags do not contain any content inside them, they don’t need a closing tag. The slash at the end tells the browser the tag is complete on its own.

intermediate

Is <br> valid without the slash in HTML5?

Yes, in HTML5 the slash is optional for self-closing tags like <br>. Browsers understand it as self-closing even without the slash.

intermediate

What is the difference between self-closing tags in HTML and XHTML?

In XHTML, self-closing tags must always have the slash (e.g., <br />) because it is XML-based and requires strict syntax. HTML5 is more flexible and allows the slash to be optional.

Which of these is a correct self-closing tag in HTML5?

A <span />

B <div />

C <p />

D <img src="image.jpg" />

Only <img> is a self-closing tag. Tags like <div>, <p>, and <span> need separate closing tags.

What does the slash in a self-closing tag mean?

A It closes the previous tag

B It starts a comment

C It marks the tag as complete without content inside

D It is optional and has no meaning

The slash indicates the tag is complete and does not wrap any content.

Which tag is NOT typically self-closing?

A <input />

B <section />

C <hr />

D <br />

<section> is a container tag and requires a separate closing tag.

In HTML5, is <br> without a slash valid?

A Yes, it is valid

B No, it must have a slash

C Only in XHTML

D Only in older HTML versions

HTML5 allows self-closing tags without the slash.

Why do self-closing tags improve writing HTML?

A They reduce code by not needing closing tags

B They add comments automatically

C They make tags colorful

D They slow down the browser

Self-closing tags make code shorter and easier to read by not requiring closing tags.

Explain what a self-closing tag is and why it is used in HTML.

Think about tags that don’t wrap text or other elements.

Describe the difference between self-closing tags in HTML5 and XHTML.

Consider the syntax rules of XML vs HTML.