The <aside> element is used to represent auxiliary content related to the main content but not the core, such as sidebars, recommended links, etc., to improve accessibility and SEO through semantics. When using correctly, you need to determine whether the content is independent and does not affect the understanding of the main content, and cooperate with CSS to control the layout to avoid abuse or substitute for layout tags.
Using the <aside></aside>
element of HTML5 to represent the sidebar content is a semantic and practical approach. It not only helps browsers and assistive tools better understand page structure, but also makes the code clearer and easier to read.

What is the <aside></aside>
element?
<aside></aside>
is a semantic tag introduced in HTML5 to represent parts related to the main content of the page but not the core content. It is usually used to display sidebars, advertisements, supplementary instructions, related links, etc.

It should be noted that although <aside></aside>
is often used in sidebar layouts, it is not a layout element. Its function is to divide the structure, and the style and position still need to be controlled through CSS.
For example:

<aside> <h3>Recommended reading</h3> <ul> <li><a href="#">How to Start Blog</a></li> <li><a href="#">A list of new features of HTML5</a></li> </ul> </aside>
The content in this example is placed in <aside>
, telling the browser that this part of the content is auxiliary information.
How to correctly use <aside>
to represent the sidebar?
The key to using <aside>
is to determine whether the content is "attached" to the current context. If it can exist independently and does not affect the understanding of the main content, it is suitable to be placed in <aside>
.
Common applicable scenarios include:
- Recommended articles or links
- Advertising space
- Introduction to the author on the side of the blog
- Column classification or tag cloud
- Search box or other functional components
It is not recommended to place global structures such as navigation bars and footers in <aside>
, these are more suitable for placement in <nav>
or <footer>
.
In terms of layout, you can place <aside>
next to the main content through CSS, for example:
main { float: left; width: 70%; } aside { float: right; width: 30%; }
Difference between <aside></aside>
and other semantic tags
HTML5 provides multiple semantic tags, such as <section></section>
, <article></article>
, and <nav>
, each of which has different uses:
-
<section></section>
: Used to organize different blocks of the page, each block should have a title. -
<article></article>
: Used for content that can be distributed independently, such as blog posts, comments, etc. -
<nav>
: Specially used to navigate the link collection. -
<aside></aside>
: Used for content related to main content but not core.
If you are not sure which tag to use, you can judge this:
- Is the content part of the main content? → No → Consider
<aside></aside>
- Can the content exist independently? → Yes → Consider
<article></article>
- Is it a set of navigation links? → Yes → Use
<nav>
- Is it necessary to organize into blocks? → Yes → Use
<section></section>
Notes on using <aside></aside>
Although <aside></aside>
is very convenient, there are several points to pay attention to when using it:
- Don't nest multiple
<aside></aside>
: unless it is really necessary, try to avoid putting another<aside></aside>
in one<aside></aside>
, which will mess up the structure. - Don't replace div with
<aside></aside>
: Some developers habitually use<aside></aside>
to make layouts, which is wrong. Its semantic meaning should be given priority. - Styles are not limited to position :
<aside></aside>
does not necessarily have to be displayed on the right, but can also appear at the top, bottom, or even in the middle of the main content, as long as it is logically appropriate. - Consider accessibility support : Using
<aside></aside>
can help screen readers identify auxiliary content, but if there are important interactions inside, additional ARIA attributes are required to enhance accessibility.
Basically that's it. Rational use of <aside></aside>
can improve the structural clarity and maintainability of web pages, and it is also conducive to SEO and barrier-free access.
The above is the detailed content of Representing Sidebar Content with the HTML5 Aside Element. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

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