HTML Computer Code Elements

In HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), computer code elements are used to represent sections of code within a document.

These elements allow developers to display code snippets, programming instructions, or other types of preformatted text related to computer programming or markup languages. The primary HTML elements for displaying code include:

<code>

This element is used to define a single line of code. The text within.
<code> is typically displayed in a monospaced font.

Example

<code>
x = 10;
y = 15;
z = x + y;
<code>

You can click on above box to edit the code and run again.

Output

x = 5; y = 6; z = x + y;

<pre>:

The <pre> (preformatted) element is used to preserve both spaces and line breaks within the enclosed text. It's often used for displaying multiline code blocks.

Example

             
<pre>
 function add(a, b) {
    return a + b;
  }
</pre>

<kbd>:

The <kbd> (keyboard input) element is used to represent user input, often used for displaying keyboard keys or combinations

Example

              
Press <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>C</kbd> to copy.

<samp>:

The <samp> (sample output) element is used to represent the output from a program or script.

Example

              
<samp>File not found.</samp>

<var>:

The <var> (variable) element is used to represent the name of a variable or placeholder within code.

Example

             
The value of <var>X</var> is 42.

These elements are not only used for styling but also for conveying semantic meaning. When browsers render these elements, they often use a monospaced or fixed-width font to maintain the formatting of the code. Developers can further style these elements using CSS to enhance the visual presentation based on their design preferences.