Paragraph Tag

The <p> element defines a paragraph — the most common way to structure text content on the web.

How Paragraphs Work

Paragraphs are block-level elements. Each paragraph starts on a new line and browsers automatically add margin space before and after it. This creates visual separation between blocks of text.

Line Wrapping

Text inside a <p> tag automatically wraps to the next line when it reaches the edge of its container. You do not need to manually add line breaks — the browser handles this. Multiple spaces and line breaks within the HTML source are collapsed into a single space.

When to Use Paragraphs

Use <p> for sentences and ideas that form a cohesive thought. Do not use paragraphs just for spacing — that is what CSS margins are for. A common mistake is wrapping every line in its own <p> when a single paragraph with <br> tags would be more appropriate.

Nesting Rules

Paragraphs can contain inline elements like <a>, <strong>, <em>, and <span>. They cannot contain block-level elements like <div>, <h1>, or other <p> tags.