Introduction

From the most obvious design elements, such as the font and leading used in paragraphs and headings, to those that are often overlooked, such as the size of the margins, every element you place in the layout of a web page adds to the intended message of the content being displayed.

This chapter covers the page elements that comprise a web page. Page elements are items that affect the appearance of a web page, but aren't necessarily a part of the page. For example, a border around the viewport, the area of a web page that is seen by the user in the web browser, is a page element.

By manipulating elements such as the margins and borders surrounding a web page, you effectively frame the content of the page without actually styling the content. Such simple changes can affect the page's overall design in a profound way, or they can add that final, subtle detail that completes the design.