<aside> vs <div>
You might wonder, "What's the difference between <aside> & <div>?" Both can be used to create sections in your webpage, but they have different meanings.
-
<aside> is special because it tells everyone that the content inside is related to the main stuff but not a direct part of it. It's like saying, "Here's something interesting on the side!"
-
On the other hand, <div> is like a blank canvas. It doesn't say much on its own & is used to group content or style it with CSS. It's your go-to when you just need to organize your page but don't want to add any special meaning.
- So, use <aside> for content that complements the main content, like side notes or additional info, & use <div> when you just need to section off parts of your page without adding extra meaning.
Let's look at an example to better understand the difference between <aside> & <div>.
Imagine you're writing an article about healthy eating, & you want to include a sidebar with a list of fruit & veggie recipes. This is a perfect use for <aside> because the recipes are related to your main topic but not part of the article's core content.
<article>
<h1>Healthy Eating</h1>
<p>Healthy eating is all about balance...</p>
<!-- Main article content continues -->
<aside>
<h2>Recipes</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="#">Fruit Salad</a></li>
<li><a href="#">Veggie Stir-Fry</a></li>
<!-- More recipes -->
</ul>
</aside>
</article>
In this example, <aside> clearly marks the recipes as complementary to the main article on healthy eating.
Now, consider you have a webpage with several sections, like a header, an article, & a footer. Here, you might use <div> tags to structure these sections since they're just parts of the layout without specific semantic meaning.
<div id="header">...</div>
<div id="content">...</div>
<div id="footer">...</div>
In this case, <div> tags are used to organize the page's layout, & they don't imply any particular relationship with the content inside them, unlike <aside> which suggests a sidebar or related information.
Examples
Example 1: Blog Post Sidebar
Imagine you're creating a blog post about gardening. Alongside your main content, you want to include helpful tips & links to related articles. This is a great scenario for an <aside> tag.
<article>
<h1>Gardening 101</h1>
<p>Welcome to the world of gardening...</p>
<!-- Main article content -->
<aside>
<h3>Gardening Tips</h3>
<ul>
<li>Water plants in the early morning.</li>
<li>Use compost for healthier soil.</li>
<!-- More tips -->
</ul>
<h3>Related Articles</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="#">Starting Your Herb Garden</a></li>
<li><a href="#">5 Common Gardening Mistakes</a></li>
<!-- More links -->
</ul>
</aside>
</article>
In this example, the <aside> tag creates a clear, separate space for the sidebar content that complements the main gardening article.
Example 2: Author Bio on a News Article
If you're writing a news article & want to include a short bio of the author at the end, <aside> can come in handy.
<article>
<h1>Local Park Renovation Plans Revealed</h1>
<p>The city council announced a new initiative...</p>
<!-- News content -->
<aside>
<h3>About the Author</h3>
<p>Jane Doe is a seasoned journalist with over 10 years of experience...</p>
</aside>
</article>
Here, the <aside> tag is used to provide additional information about the author, enriching the main article without distracting from its primary focus.
Supported Browsers
When you use the <aside> tag in your web pages, it's important to know that almost all modern web browsers will support it. This means you can use <aside> on your site & expect it to work properly in browsers that most people use today, like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, & Edge.
Here's a simple list to give you an idea:
-
Google Chrome: Fully supports <aside>.
-
Mozilla Firefox: Yes, it supports <aside>.
-
Apple Safari: No problem here, <aside> works.
-
Microsoft Edge: Edge supports <aside> too.
-
Internet Explorer: Older versions might not fully understand <aside>, but versions 9 & up do.
So, when you decide to use <aside> in your web design, you can be pretty confident that most visitors will see your content just as you intended, without any major issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an aside in HTML?
An <aside> element represents complementary content, such as sidebars, pull quotes, or related links, typically separate from the main content.
What is the difference between aside and div?
<aside> semantically represents supplementary content, while <div> is a generic container with no specific meaning, often used for styling and layout purposes.
What are aside roles in HTML?
The <aside> element’s role is to provide additional, non-primary content that enhances the main content, such as advertisements, sidebars, or related information.
Conclusion
To wrap it up, the <aside> tag in HTML is super useful for adding extra bits of information to your web pages, like sidebars or author bios, that are related to your main content but can stand on their own. It's supported by pretty much all modern web browsers, so you can use it without worrying about compatibility issues. Remember, using <aside> helps keep your website organized & makes it easier for your visitors (& search engines) to understand the structure of your content. So, next time you're working on a web page & need to include some related, but not essential, information, consider using <aside> to do the job right.
You can refer to our guided paths on the Code360. You can check our course to learn more about DSA, DBMS, Competitive Programming, Python, Java, JavaScript, etc.
Also, check out some of the Guided Paths on topics such as Data Structure and Algorithms, Competitive Programming, Operating Systems, Computer Networks, DBMS, System Design, etc., as well as some Contests, Test Series, and Interview Experiences curated by top Industry Experts.
7+ registered 
