HTML5 Void Elements: Should You Use <br>, <br/>, or <br />?

By the end of this page, you will understand how HTML5 handles void elements like br, why <br> is the standard HTML form, why <br/> and <br /> may still appear in code, and how this differs from XHTML and XML-style syntax.

In HTML5, br is a void element. A void element is an element that cannot have any content inside it and does not need a closing tag.

That means this is the normal HTML5 form:

<br>

Why this matters

HTML has rules for different kinds of elements:

• Normal elements have an opening and closing tag:

  <p>Hello</p>
  

• Void elements do not wrap content and do not use closing tags:

  <br>
  <img src="photo.jpg" alt="Photo">
  <input type="text">
  

In HTML5, the parser already knows that br is void, so it does not need / to mark it as self-closing.

What about <br/> and ?

Think of HTML elements like containers.

• A normal element like <p> is a box with a start and end:

  • open the box: <p>
  • put content inside
  • close the box: </p>

• A void element like <br> is more like pressing a button than opening a box.

  • It performs a specific action
  • It does not hold content
  • There is nothing to close

So writing <br> in HTML is like pressing a “new line” button.

Adding / in <br /> is like writing extra punctuation the browser does not need when reading normal HTML. It may still accept it, but the simpler native form is just <br>.

Core syntax

In HTML5, a line break is written as:

<br>

Example

<p>Hello<br>World</p>

This displays as:

• Hello
• World

on separate lines within the same paragraph.

Other valid forms you may see

<br/>
<br />

Browsers typically accept these in HTML5 documents, but the standard HTML style is:

<br>

More void element examples

These are also void elements in HTML:

<img src="cat.jpg" alt="Cat">
<input =>

Consider this example:

<p>First line<br>Second line</p>

Step-by-step

1. The browser reads <p> and starts a paragraph.
2. It reads the text First line.
3. It reads <br>.
4. Because br is a void element, the browser inserts a line break immediately.
5. It reads Second line on the next line.
6. It reads </p> and ends the paragraph.

Result

The paragraph contains two lines:

• First line
• Second line

Compare with a normal element

<p><strong>Hello</strong></p>

Here the browser:

Where br is actually useful

Addresses

<p>
  Jane Doe<br>
  42 River Road<br>
  Austin, TX 78701
</p>

Poems or song lyrics

<p>
  Roses are red<br>
  Violets are blue<br>
  HTML has void tags<br>
  And now you do too
</p>

Compact labels in UI text

<p>Order confirmed<br>Expected delivery: Monday</p>

Where it should not be used

• Creating page spacing
• Pushing elements down the page
• Replacing proper paragraph structure
• Replacing CSS margins or layout tools

For example, in real apps developers use CSS for spacing:

  Profile
  Welcome back.

In real codebases, developers usually follow a consistent markup style based on the document type and formatter.

Common patterns

1. Use plain HTML syntax in HTML5 files

Most teams writing standard .html files use:

<br>
<hr>
<img src="logo.png" alt="Logo">

2. Let formatters enforce consistency

Tools such as formatters or linters may output either:

<br>

or

<br />

depending on the environment or template system. In many codebases, consistency matters more than personal preference.

3. Framework and template differences

Some templating systems, JSX, or XML-based formats may prefer self-closing syntax:

<br />
<img src="/logo.png" = />

1. Adding a closing tag to br

Broken code:

<br></br>

Why it is wrong:

• br is a void element
• Void elements do not have closing tags

Use this instead:

<br>

2. Thinking / is required in HTML5

Beginners often assume this is more correct:

<br />

It is accepted in many cases, but HTML5 does not require it for HTML documents.

The standard HTML form is:

<br>

3. Using br for layout spacing

Broken approach:

<h1>Welcome


Start here

HTML vs XHTML syntax for empty elements

Comparing the three forms

Quick answer

In HTML5, use:

<br>

Key rule

br is a void element:

• no closing tag
• no inner content
• no need for / in HTML

Valid forms you may see

<br>
<br/>
<br />

Best choice by context

• HTML5 document: <br>
• XHTML/XML: <br />
• JSX: <br />

Other HTML void elements

<area>
<base>
<br>
<col>
<embed>

Is <br> valid in HTML5?

Yes. It is the standard HTML5 form for a line break.

Is <br /> wrong in HTML5?

Not usually. Browsers accept it in HTML documents, but it is XML-style syntax rather than the usual HTML5 style.

Should I use <br> or <br />?

If you are writing normal HTML5, use <br>. If you are writing XHTML or JSX, use <br />.

Is <br/> different from <br />?

In most HTML5 browser parsing, both are treated the same. The space is mainly a style difference.

Can I write </br>?

No. br is a void element and must not have a closing tag.

Why do some tools still generate <br />?

Some tools follow XML-style formatting, support multiple markup targets, or use syntax rules like JSX.

Should I use multiple <br> tags for spacing?

Usually no. Use CSS margins or padding for layout and spacing.

What is a void element in HTML?

• Void elements — br belongs to this category, so understanding void elements explains why no closing tag is needed.
• HTML vs XHTML — the syntax difference between <br> and <br /> comes directly from these two markup styles.
• HTML parsing — browsers interpret HTML using parsing rules that differ from XML parsing.
• Semantic HTML — helps you know when br is appropriate and when a paragraph or other element is better.
• CSS spacing — important because br should not be used as a layout tool.
• JSX syntax — relevant because JSX requires self-closing tags like <br />.
• Common HTML elements — learning which elements are void versus normal helps prevent invalid markup.