HTML Bold Tag (b): A Step-by-Step Guide

What is the HTML b Tag?

Introduction: Why Bold Text Is Important in HTML

When users read a webpage, they rarely read every word.
They scan the content.

Bold text helps by:

  • Drawing attention to key terms

  • Highlighting important words

  • Improving readability

  • Making content easier to understand

In HTML, bold text is created using the HTML Bold Tag.
However, many beginners do not know that there are two ways to make text bold, and they serve different purposes.

This guide explains everything about the HTML bold tag in a clear, teacher-style, beginner-friendly way.

What Is the HTML Bold Tag?

In HTML, the bold tag is used to make text appear thicker and darker.

There are two related tags:

  • <b> → Bold text (visual only)

  • <strong> → Important text (semantic meaning)

👉 Both look bold in the browser, but they are not the same.

HTML Tag (Bold – Visual Only)

What Does <b> Do?

The <b> tag makes text bold for visual emphasis only.
It does not indicate importance or urgency.

Syntax

<b>Bold Text</b>

<b>Bold Text</b>

<p>This is <b>bold</b> text.</p>

When to Use Tag

Use <b> when:

  • You want text to stand out visually

  • The meaning of the sentence does not change

  • You are highlighting keywords, names, or labels

Common Use Cases

  • Product names

  • Keywords in summaries

  • Visual labels

  • Styling-only emphasis

HTML Tag (Bold with Meaning)

What Does <strong> Do?

The <strong> tag indicates important or serious content.

Browsers display it as bold, but screen readers also emphasize it vocally.

Syntax

<strong>Important Text</strong>

Example 2: Using <strong> Tag

 
 
<p>This step is <strong>very important</strong>.</p>

Output Explanation

  • Text appears bold

  • Meaningful emphasis is added

  • Screen readers stress the text

vs – Key Differences

Feature<b><strong>
PurposeVisual emphasisImportance
Semantic meaning❌ No✅ Yes
Screen reader support❌ No✅ Yes
SEO value❌ Low✅ Better
Recommended useStyling onlyImportant text

Best Practice:

  • Use <strong> when meaning matters

  • Use <b> only for visual styling

Using Bold Text Inside Paragraphs

<p>
  HTML is a <b>markup language</b> used for web development.
</p>

Valid
Common usage

Combining <b> with Other Inline Tags

<p>This is <b><i>bold and italic</i></b> text.</p>

Avoid overuse to maintain readability.

Using CSS Instead of (Recommended for Styling)

If bold text is required only for design, use CSS.

Example

<p class="highlight">Highlighted Text</p>
.highlight {
  font-weight: bold;
}

Advantages

  • Cleaner HTML

  • Better separation of content and design

  • More control over styling

Accessibility Considerations

  • b> does not convey importance to screen readers

  • Screen readers treat <b> as normal text

  • <strong> improves accessibility

👉 Always think about users with assistive technologies.

HTML Bold Tag and SEO

  • <b> has minimal SEO impact

  • <strong> is treated as important content

  • Overusing bold text can reduce readability

👉 Semantic HTML helps search engines understand content better.

Common Beginner Mistakes

  • Using <b> for important warnings
  •  Making entire paragraphs bold
  • Using <b> instead of headings
  •  Ignoring <strong>
  •  Overusing bold formatting

Real-World Example

<h2>Course Overview</h2>
<p>
  This course teaches <b>HTML</b>, <b>CSS</b>, and <b>JavaScript</b>.
</p>

<p>
  <strong>Note:</strong> Practice daily for best results.
</p>
  • Correct usage
  •  Semantic and readable

FAQs: HTML Bold Tag

What does the HTML bold tag do?

It makes text bold.

Is <b> deprecated?

No, it is still valid in HTML5.

Which is better: <b> or <strong>?

<strong> is better when importance matters.

Does bold text help SEO?

Only semantic bold (<strong>) helps slightly.

Can I make text bold without <b>?

Yes, using CSS font-weight.