In HTML, both <strong> and <b> are used for text emphasis, but they have different semantic meanings and purposes. It’s important to understand the distinction between the two to use them appropriately:
<b> (Bold): This element is used to apply bold formatting to text purely for visual presentation purposes. It doesn’t carry any inherent semantic meaning. Historically, <b> was commonly used to make text bold, but its use has become less common in favor of <strong> due to the latter’s semantic significance.
<strong> (Strong Importance): This element is used to indicate that the enclosed text is of strong importance or relevance. It not only makes the text bold visually but also carries semantic weight. It implies stronger emphasis than <b> and is often interpreted by screen readers and search engines to convey the importance of the text.
So, when deciding between <strong> and <b>, consider the semantic meaning you want to convey. If the text is simply being visually emphasized, such as for stylistic reasons, <b> may be appropriate. However, if the text carries importance or significance within the context of the content, <strong> is the better choice for conveying that semantic meaning along with visual emphasis.