<header> HTML header element
Baseline
Widely available
This feature is well established and works across many devices and browser versions. It’s been available across browsers since July 2015.
The <header> HTML element represents introductory content, typically a group of introductory or navigational aids. It may contain some heading elements but also a logo, a search form, an author name, and other elements.
Try it
<header>
<a class="logo" href="#">Cute Puppies Express!</a>
</header>
<article>
<header>
<h1>Beagles</h1>
<time>08.12.2014</time>
</header>
<p>
I love beagles <em>so</em> much! Like, really, a lot. They're adorable and
their ears are so, so snugly soft!
</p>
</article>
.logo {
background: left / cover
url("../../../../../../shared-assets/images/examples/puppy-header.jpg");
display: flex;
height: 120px;
align-items: center;
justify-content: center;
font:
bold calc(1em + 2 * (100vw - 120px) / 100) "Dancing Script",
fantasy;
color: #ff0083;
text-shadow: black 2px 2px 0.2rem;
}
header > h1 {
margin-bottom: 0;
}
header > time {
font: italic 0.7rem sans-serif;
}
Usage notes
When not nested within sectioning content, <main>, or an element with the same ARIA role as these elements' implicit ARIA role, then the <header> element has an identical meaning to the site-wide banner landmark role. It defines a global site header, which usually includes a logo, company name, search feature, and possibly the global navigation or a slogan. It is generally located at the top of the page.
Otherwise, when nested within said elements, it loses its landmark status and represents a group of introductory or navigational aids for the surrounding section. It usually contains the surrounding section's heading (an h1 – h6 element) and optional subheading, but this is not required.
Historical Usage
The <header> element originally existed at the very beginning of HTML for headings. It is seen in the very first website. At some point, headings became <h1> through <h6>, allowing <header> to be free to fill a different role.
Attributes
This element only includes the global attributes.
Accessibility
The <header> element defines a banner landmark when its context is the <body> element.
When placed inside an <article>, <main>, <section>, <nav>, <aside>, or an element with the same ARIA role as these elements' implicit ARIA role, the <header> element has the generic role instead, and is no longer considered a landmark. In this case, it cannot be labeled with aria-label or aria-labelledby.
Examples
Page Header
<header>
<h1>Main Page Title</h1>
<img src="mdn-logo-sm.png" alt="MDN logo" />
</header>
Result
Article Header
<article>
<header>
<h2>The Planet Earth</h2>
<p>
Posted on Wednesday, <time datetime="2017-10-04">4 October 2017</time> by
Jane Smith
</p>
</header>
<p>
We live on a planet that's blue and green, with so many things still unseen.
</p>
<p><a href="https://example.com/the-planet-earth/">Continue reading…</a></p>
</article>
Result
Technical summary
| Content categories | Flow content, palpable content. |
|---|---|
| Permitted content |
Flow content, but with no <header> or
<footer> descendant.
|
| Tag omission | None, both the starting and ending tag are mandatory. |
| Permitted parents |
Any element that accepts
flow content. Note that a <header> element must not be a
descendant of an <address>,
<footer> or another
<header> element.
|
| Implicit ARIA role |
banner, or
generic
if a descendant of an
article, aside, main, nav or
section
element, or an element with
article,
complementary,
main,
navigation
or
region role
|
| Permitted ARIA roles |
group, presentation or
none
|
| DOM interface | HTMLElement |
Specifications
| Specification |
|---|
| HTML # the-header-element |
Browser compatibility
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Legend
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- Full support
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