The <main> element in HTML serves a specific and important role in defining the structure and semantics of web documents. Introduced in HTML5, the <main> element is used to represent the primary content of the body of a document or application. This content is directly related to or expands upon the central topic of the document or the central functionality of an application[1][2][3][4][5].
Key Characteristics and Usage
Semantic Clarity: The <main> element provides semantic meaning to the content it encloses, indicating that the content is the main and most important part of the webpage. This helps in making the content more accessible and understandable, both for users and search engines[1][2].
Accessibility: It is particularly useful for assistive technologies like screen readers. The <main> element allows these technologies to quickly identify and navigate to the main content of the page, skipping over other less critical content like navigation links or headers[1][4].
Single Instance: A document should contain only one <main> element to avoid confusion about which part of the content is considered primary. This element must not be a descendant of any <article>, <aside>, <footer>, <header>, or <nav> elements[2][4][5].
Non-Sectioning: Unlike some other HTML5 elements, the <main> element does not contribute to the document's outline. This means it does not affect the DOM's concept of the structure of the page but is used purely for improving the accessibility and semantic structure[4].
Practical Implementation
In practical terms, the <main> element is used to wrap the core content of a webpage that is unique to that specific page. ...
