what is a replaced element?

[John Fitzgibbon]

Hi,

My understanding is that a replaced element is an empty element that
occupies space like a button on a form or an image. It is also an inline
element (an element that does not force the next element onto a new
line).

Is this correct or is it just a coincidence that all the examples of
replaced elements that I know about happen to be empty (no text between
the start tag and end tag)?

What is the significance of replaced elements? All other inline
elements, eg a and em, occupy a space which is determined by the content
(the text between the start tag and end tag) of the element.

Is the space occupied by a replaced element treated differently in some
way? Is there a good resource on the web pointing out these differences?
I have read the O'Reilly book on CSS but I don't feel that I have fully
understood what replaced elements are all about.

Any ideas would be much appreciated.

John Fitzgibbon

Galway Public Library
Island House
Cathedral Square
Galway
Ireland

p: 00 353 91 562471
f: 00 353 91 565039
w: http://www.galwaylibrary.ie 

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