How to Use the BR Tag to Create Line Breaks in HTML

What the BR tag does and when to use it

The BR tag creates a single line break in HTML — it moves the next text or element down to a new line without starting a new paragraph. You write it as or (both work the same way). Unlike a paragraph tag, which adds space above and below, a BR tag just breaks the line.

Use BR when you need a line break but not a full paragraph. Common places are poetry, song lyrics, addresses, or anywhere a visual line break matters but a paragraph break would add unwanted space. If you want space between blocks of text, use a paragraph tag instead — that is what it is for.

The BR tag is one of the few HTML tags that does not need a closing tag. You do not write . Just on its own, or if you prefer the self-closing style. Both are correct.

Key Takeaways

The BR tag creates a single line break and is written as with no closing tag needed.
BR adds a line break without the extra space that a paragraph tag creates, so use it for poetry, addresses, or short line breaks within a block of text.
You can write or — both are valid HTML and work identically.
Do not use multiple BR tags in a row to create space between paragraphs; use paragraph tags or CSS margins instead.

Where to place the BR tag in your code

Put the BR tag at the exact spot where you want the line to break. If you are writing an address, place it between each line of the address. If you are writing poetry, place it at the end of each line.

Here is a real example with an address:

123 Main Street Springfield, IL 62701 United States

The text before the BR tag stays on one line. The text after it moves to the next line. The whole thing is still inside one paragraph tag, so there is no extra space between the address lines.

BR tag versus paragraph tags and CSS

A paragraph tag () creates a line break and adds space above and below the text. A BR tag creates only the line break, with no extra space. If you use multiple BR tags to create space between sections, your code becomes hard to read and harder to change later.

The right tool depends on what you are building. Use BR for line breaks within a single thought or block — like an address or poem. Use tags for separate paragraphs or sections. If you need to control the exact amount of space, use CSS margins instead of stacking BR tags.

This is wrong:

First paragraph Second paragraph

This is right:

First paragraph Second paragraph

If you want more space than a paragraph normally gives, add CSS to the paragraph tag instead of adding extra BR tags.

Real examples where BR makes sense

Poetry and song lyrics are the clearest use case. Each line of the poem needs its own line in the browser, but it is all one block of text:

Roses are red Violets are blue HTML is fun And BR tags are too

Addresses are another common one. You want each line of the address on its own line, but the whole address is one unit:

Contact us at: 456 Oak Avenue Portland, OR 97201

Some websites use BR in phone numbers or formatted text where the visual layout matters. Just remember: if you are breaking up separate ideas or sections, use paragraph tags instead.

Why not to stack multiple BR tags

Beginners often use multiple BR tags in a row to create space between sections. It works, but it creates problems. When you change the design later, you have to hunt through the code and remove each extra BR tag by hand. If you use CSS instead, you change one rule and it updates everywhere.

Multiple BR tags also confuse screen readers and other tools that read your code. They see a bunch of empty lines and do not understand what you meant. Paragraph tags and CSS margins are clearer about what you are trying to do.

If you find yourself writing more than one BR tag in a row, stop and ask whether you should be using a paragraph tag or CSS instead. The answer is almost always yes.

How BR behaves on different screen sizes

A BR tag always creates a line break, no matter how wide or narrow the screen is. It does not respond to screen size the way word wrapping does. This is usually fine for addresses and poetry, but if you are using BR to control layout on a desktop, it may look wrong on a phone.

For layout that changes based on screen size, use CSS and paragraph tags instead of BR. CSS can hide, show, or rearrange elements depending on the device. BR just breaks the line the same way every time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to close the BR tag?

No. The BR tag does not have a closing tag. Write and you are done. Some people write with a slash at the end, which is also correct. Both styles work in modern HTML.

Can I use BR to create space between paragraphs?

Technically yes, but you should not. Use paragraph tags instead. Multiple BR tags make your code hard to maintain and confuse accessibility tools. If you need more space than a paragraph normally gives, add CSS margins to the paragraph tag.

Does BR work the same way in all browsers?

Yes. The BR tag is one of the oldest and most consistent HTML tags. Every browser handles it the same way — it creates a line break with no extra space. You do not need to worry about compatibility.

What is the difference between BR and a paragraph tag?

BR creates a line break only. A paragraph tag creates a line break and adds space above and below. Use BR when you need a line break within a single block of text, like an address. Use paragraph tags when you have separate sections or ideas.

Can I style a BR tag with CSS?

Not really. BR is a line break, not a container, so CSS margins and padding do not work on it the way they do on other tags. If you need to control spacing, wrap your text in a paragraph or div tag and style that instead.

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