juniorHTML5

Explain the difference between <section> and <article>.

Updated Apr 28, 2026

Short answer

<article> is for self-contained, distributable content; <section> is for thematic grouping of content.

Deep explanation

An <article> should make sense on its own (like a blog post or news story). A <section> is a way to divide a page or an article into different parts (like 'Contact Info' or 'Product Features'). If you can syndicate the content separately, use <article>.

Real-world example

In a blog, the whole post is an <article>, while the 'Comments' area is a <section>.

Common mistakes

  • Using <section> solely for CSS styling (use <div> for that).

Follow-up questions

  • Can an article contain sections?
  • Should every section have a heading?

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