HTML Foundations

Semantic Page Layout

Learn to use header, nav, main, section and footer appropriately and create useful landmarks in this beginner-friendly website development lesson.

Learning outcomes

  • Explain how to use header, nav, main, section and footer appropriately.
  • Complete the guided practice safely.
  • Check that you can create useful landmarks.

Before you begin

Work on a practice copy, keep filenames lowercase and hyphenated, and create a backup before changing a live website.

Open official guidance ↗

Step-by-step instructions

  1. Open the relevant project page, file or WordPress screen and confirm you are working on a safe practice copy.
  2. Replace generic containers in a practice page.
  3. Inspect the result using browser tools or WordPress Preview; do not publish yet.
  4. Check keyboard use, mobile layout, content accuracy, links, images and privacy where applicable.
  5. Confirm that you can create useful landmarks, then save a clearly named version or backup.
Ian's practical tip: Preview first, test at desktop and mobile sizes, and keep a recoverable copy before publishing.

Practical activity

Replace generic containers in a practice page. The expected result is to create useful landmarks.

Completion checklist