HTML elements: opening and closing tags

A closing tag - the forward slash before the tag name signals the end of an HTML element.

Part of: HTML and CSS Journey — Module 3

What it does: In this span element, 'My text' is the content sitting between the <span> opening tag and the </span> closing tag. The forward slash always comes before the tag name in a closing tag, like </p>. The closing tag must use the same tag name as the opening tag. <h2> is closed with </h2>, not </heading>. Without a forward slash, <p> is an opening tag. To end the paragraph element you need </p> with a slash.

Common mistakes: The opening h1 tag is malformed - it is missing the closing angle bracket >. It should be <h1> not <h1 title. The paragraph is closed with <div> instead of </p>. The closing tag must match the opening tag and use a forward slash.

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Learning

Duo

Which of these is a correctly formed closing tag?

</h1><h1/>

Matches

<p>Welcome<p>

↓

The second tag should be </p> - using <p> again opens a new element instead of closing the first

Applying

Meanings

Term

</p>

Meaning

A closing tag - the forward slash before the tag name signals the end of an HTML element.

Practice

<div>

Testing

Gaps

<h1>Hello World

Check Answer

Spots

1<h1 title</h1>

2 <p>Some text</p>

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Quick Questions

1. Which of these is a correctly formed closing tag?

A. </h1> ✓

B. <h1/>

A closing tag has a forward slash before the tag name: </h1>. The form <h1/> is not valid standard HTML for this element.

2. Where does the forward slash go in a closing tag?

A. Before the tag name: </p> ✓

B. After the tag name: <p/>

The forward slash always comes before the tag name in a closing tag, like </p>.

3. True or false: <div> and </p> are a correctly matched pair of tags.

A. False ✓

B. True

A closing tag must match its opening tag. </p> closes a <p> element, not a <div>.

4. Which line shows a complete HTML element with opening tag, content, and closing tag?

A. <p>Hello</p> ✓

B. <p>Hello<p>

<p>Hello</p> is correct - it opens with <p>, has content, and closes with </p>. The second option uses another opening tag instead of a closing tag.

5. True or false: content goes between the opening and closing tag.

A. True ✓

B. False

Content like text or other elements always goes between the opening tag and the closing tag.

Match the Pairs

<p>Hello</p> → A complete paragraph element - opening tag, content, and matching closing tag

</h1> → A closing tag - the forward slash before h1 signals the end of the heading element

Content goes between the opening and closing tag → <span>My text</span>

A closing tag uses a forward slash before the tag name → </div>

<p>Welcome<p> → The second tag should be </p> - using <p> again opens a new element instead of closing the first

<h1>Title</h2> → The closing tag name must match the opening tag - </h2> cannot close an <h1> element

Key Term

</p>

A closing tag - the forward slash before the tag name signals the end of an HTML element.

Fill in the Blanks

1. <h1>Hello World</h1>

Hint: Type the closing tag that matches the opening h1 tag

2. <div><p>My paragraph</p>

Hint: Type the opening tag for a div element

3. <p>Some text</p>

Hint: Type the closing tag that ends a paragraph element

4. <h2>Page Heading</h2>

Hint: Type the opening tag name that matches the closing h2 tag

5. <span>Bold text</span>

Hint: Type the closing tag that ends a span element

Spot the Error

Question 1

A <h1 title</h1>

B <p>Some text</p>

C <span>Label</span>

Line A — The opening h1 tag is malformed - it is missing the closing angle bracket >. It should be <h1> not <h1 title.

Question 2

A <div>

B <p>Hello there<div>

C <span>More</span>

D </div>

Line B — The paragraph is closed with <div> instead of </p>. The closing tag must match the opening tag and use a forward slash.

Question 3

A <section>

B <h1>Title</h1>

C <p>Content<section>

D </section>

Line C — The paragraph is closed with <section> instead of </p>. Closing tags must match their opening tag name and include a forward slash.

Question 4

A <div>

B <span>Label</span>

C <p>More text</p>

D <div>

Line D — The closing tag for div is written as <div> instead of </div>. A closing tag must have a forward slash before the tag name.

Question 5

A <article>

B <h2>Heading</h2>

C <p>First paragraph</p>

D <p>Second paragraph</p>

E <article>

Line E — The article element is closed with <article> instead of </article>. A closing tag requires a forward slash.

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