Summary
In CSS, a replaced element is an element whose representation is outside the scope of CSS. These are a type of external object whose representation is independent of the CSS. Typical replaced elements are:
Some elements are treated as replaced elements only in specific cases:
The only form control that is also a replaced element is <input> of the image type. All other form controls are non-replaced elements.
Objects inserted using the CSS content properties are anonymous replaced elements.
CSS handles replaced elements specifically in some cases, like when calculating margins and some auto values.
Note that some replaced elements, but not all, have intrinsic dimensions or a defined baseline, which is used by some CSS properties like vertical-align.
See also
- CSS Key Concepts: CSS syntax, at-rule, comments, specificity and inheritance, the box, layout modes and visual formatting models, and margin collapsing, or the initial, computed, resolved, specified, used, and actual values. Definitions of value syntax, shorthand properties and replaced elements.