Is there a native inline-block HTML 'container' element?

Question

A span is an inline element and div is a block element. Is there a 'native' (X)HTML / HTML5 inline-block element that can act like a container? (Without applying CSS)

Definitions:

block
This value causes an element to generate a block box.
inline-block
This value causes an element to generate an inline-level block container. The inside of an inline-block is formatted as a block box, and the element itself is formatted as an atomic inline-level box.
inline
This value causes an element to generate one or more inline boxes.

Hm, guess you are right: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2402761/img-elements-block-level-element-or-inline-element. Quote: In CSS, you can set an element to display: `inline-block` to make it replicate the behaviour of images --> So you there's your answer as well. You need to specify it. — Erik Dekker, Jan 09 '12 at 14:37
@KeesC.Bakker, @ErikDekker: The specs say nothing of this. HTML5 specifies `img` as Flow content, which kind of implies and `inline` display mode. It seems that [none of the browsers](http://meiert.com/en/blog/20070922/user-agent-style-sheets/) actively apply `inline-block` to `` elements, either (which given that the default is `inline`, see CSS2 spec, implies that images are indeed `inline`, not `inline-block`). Saying that `inline-block` "replicates the behavior of images" is kind of an over-simplification IMHO. — You, Jan 09 '12 at 14:48

score 19 · Accepted Answer · edited Jan 09 '12 at 17:07

19

No, there is not. You have to specify inline-block explictly.

edited Jan 09 '12 at 17:07

Rob

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answered Jan 09 '12 at 14:25

Crozin

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score 10 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 09 '12 at 16:57

Strictly speaking <button> fulfils the criteria set. HTML5 says

When the button binding applies to a button element [which it ordinarily does], the element is expected to render as an 'inline-block' box rendered as a button whose contents are the contents of the element.

However while it is a container element that has a default inline-block rendering, it is not a General Purpose container so can't be used for anything but as a button.

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Aug 21 '12 at 02:49

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iframe is also inline-block too

answered Aug 21 '12 at 02:49

Kernel James

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Link to any documentation about this? – Kees C. Bakker Aug 21 '12 at 07:29
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Nope, it's an inline replaced element. Tends to work about the same as inline-block, but technically, it isn't. – Brilliand Apr 19 '13 at 19:53

Is there a native inline-block HTML 'container' element?

3 Answers3