<main> - HTML main tag

Definition

The <main> tag is used to represent the main content of the <body> of a document. It contains the primary information on the page or main functionality of an app.

Example

<html>
  <head>
    <title>Document title</title>
  </head>
  <body>
    <main>
      <header>
        <h1>Heading</h1>
      </header>
      <p>This is a paragraph</p>
    </main>
    <aside>
      <h3>Navigation</h3>
      <ul>
        <li>Home</li>
        <li>Another article</li>
      </ul>
    </aside>
  </body>
</html>

Usage

There must be only one <main> element in a document, although <main> elements with a hidden attributed are not included in this count.
The <main> element is not suitable for identifying the main content areas of subsections
The <main> element must not be a descendant of an <article>, <aside>, <footer>, <header> or <nav> element. <header> elements can be included within the <main> tags if it is relevant to the page’s main content. Examples include in-page navigation links or article-specific <h1> headings.
Both the opening and closing tags are required.
The content in the <main> element should be unique to the document. Do not include content that appears across a set of documents, such as sidebars, navigation, logos, or content more suitable for the footer.
The <main> element is not sectioning content. It does not contribute to the page’s outline, unlike the <body> or heading tags.

Attributes

The main element only supports the Global Attributes.

Best Practices

The <main> element acts as the main landmark. It can help assistive technology, such as screen readers, identify and navigate the document’s main sections.
Browser reader mode functionality uses the <main> element, along with headings, to identify the main content on the page when simplifying the user’s reading experience.

Specification

Browser Support

Desktop

Chrome	Edge	Firefox	IE	Opera	Safari
Yes	Yes	Yes	No^{^}	Yes	Yes

^ To support IE 11 and lower you can add role="main" to the <main> element.

Mobile

Android Webview	Chrome Android	Firefox Android	Opera Android	iOS Safari	Samsung Internet
Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes