What is the function of the <br> tag?

The
tag is used specifically to create a line break in the text displayed on a webpage. When this tag is used in HTML, it instructs the browser to move any following content to a new line, effectively allowing for formatted spacing without creating a new paragraph. This is particularly useful in situations where you want to control the layout of text without the additional spacing that comes from using paragraph tags.

For instance, it is often employed in poetry, addresses, or when text needs to be presented in a certain structure without the increased spacing that accompanies block elements. The
tag does not alter the flow of the document's structure with sections like headers, images, or paragraphs, but rather simply affects how text is visually displayed on the page. Thus, its role as a line break makes it a fundamental tool for managing content presentation in web design.