---
title: "Block-level content - Glossary | MDN"
chunk: 1/3
source: "https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Glossary/Block-level_content"
category: "reference"
tags: "web, html, css, javascript, documentation"
date_saved: "2026-05-05T05:25:17.439524+00:00"
instance: "kb-cron"
---

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  1. [Glossary](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Glossary)
  2. [Block-level content](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Glossary/Block-level_content)

# Block-level content
In CSS, content that participates in block layout is called **block-level content**.
In a block layout, boxes are laid out one after the other, vertically, beginning at the top of a containing block. Each box's left outer edge touches the left edge of the containing block.  
A block-level element always starts on a new line. In horizontal writing modes, like English or Arabic, it occupies the entire horizontal space of its parent element (container) and vertical space equal to the height of its contents, thereby creating a "block".
**Note:** The above behavior of block layout changes if the containing block's [`writing-mode`](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/Reference/Properties/writing-mode) is set to value other than [the default value](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/Reference/Properties/writing-mode#formal_definition).
**Note:** HTML (_HyperText Markup Language_) elements historically were categorized as either "block-level" elements or "inline" elements. As a presentational characteristic, this is now specified by CSS.
## In this article
  * [Examples](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Glossary/Block-level_content#examples)
  * [See also](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Glossary/Block-level_content#see_also)

##  [Examples](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Glossary/Block-level_content#examples)
In this example, two paragraph ([`<p>`](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Reference/Elements/p)) elements are put in a [`<div>`](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Reference/Elements/div).
The paragraph([`<p>`](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Reference/Elements/p)) elements are block-level by default. That is why they are displayed in block layout:
##  [See also](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Glossary/Block-level_content#see_also)
  * Related glossary terms: 
    * [Inline-level content](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Glossary/Inline-level_content)
  * [Block formatting context](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/Guides/Display/Block_formatting_context)
  * [`display`](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/Reference/Properties/display)
  * [`writing-mode`](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/Reference/Properties/writing-mode)