HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) elements are usually "inline" elements or "block-level" elements. An inline element occupies only the space bounded by the tags that define the inline element. The following example demonstrates the inline element's influence:
<p>This <span>span</span> is an inline element; its background has been colored to display both the beginning and end of the inline element's influence</p>
span { background-color: #8ABB55; }
The following elements are "inline":
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https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Inline_elements