juniorHTML5
What is the difference between <nav> and a standard <ul> list?
Updated Apr 28, 2026
Short answer
<nav> is a semantic wrapper for major navigation blocks; <ul> is a general-purpose list.
Deep explanation
Screen readers use <nav> to identify the primary navigation area of a site. Not all lists of links need to be in a <nav>; it’s reserved for major blocks like the header menu or breadcrumbs.
Real-world example
A site footer may have a list of 'Terms of Service' which is just a <ul>, but the top header menu uses <nav>.
Common mistakes
- Wrapping every single link in a <nav> tag.
Follow-up questions
- Can you have multiple <nav> elements?