The core difference between div and span is the default layout behavior and purpose. 1. A div is a block-level element, which occupies a single line and supports the width by default, which is suitable for building independent blocks such as page structure; a span is an inline element, which occupies only the required width of the content by default, which is suitable for wrapping text or small paragraphs of text in the line. 2. In use scenarios, div is used to group large segments of content and layout containers, while span is used to modify words or phrases in sentences. 3. The default behavior of both can be changed through the display attribute of CSS, such as turning the div into an inline element or setting the span as a block-level element, but the appropriate label should be selected based on the default characteristics to reduce additional style adjustments.
A div
and a span
are both basic HTML elements used to group content, but they behave differently by default and are meant for different purposes.

1. Block-level vs Inline: The Main Difference
The biggest difference between them is how browsers treat them by default:
- A
<div> is a <strong>block-level</strong> element. That means it takes up the full width available and starts on a new line.<li> A <code><span></span>
is an inline element. It only takes up as much width as needed and flows with surrounding text and inline elements.
For example:

<div>This is a div block</div> <span>This is inline span text</span>
If you put two div
s one after another, each will appear on its own line. But two span
s would sit side by side unless there's not enough space.
2. When to Use Div vs Span
Use these elements based on what you're trying to build or style:

Use
<div>
when:- You're grouping larger sections of content (like headers, footers, or layout blocks).
- You need a container that naturally breaks the flow (starts on a new line).
- You're building layout structures like cards, sections, or containers.
Use
<span>
when:- You're wrapping small bits of text or inline elements inside a paragraph or sentence.
- You want to style part of a line without breaking the flow.
- You're targeting something like a word inside a heading or a special character in a sentence.
Example:
<p>This is a normal <span style="max-width:90%">word</span> inside a sentence.</p>
Here, using a span
keeps the red-colored word inline with the rest of the text.
3. Can They Be Changed?
Yes — you can change how div
and span
behave using CSS.
You can make a div
act like an inline element by setting:
display: inline;
Or make a span
take up a full block:
display: block;
So while their defaults different, you're not locked into those behaviors. Just remember: use the right one by default unless you have a reason to change it.
That's basically it — div
for blocks, span
for inline bits. Doesn't sound like much, but mixing them up can lead to extra CSS just to "fix" layout quirks.
The above is the detailed content of What is the difference between a div and a span?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

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