Use <main> element

digitalpoint · Apr 21, 2026

Within the PAGE_CONTAINER template, it probably makes sense to use the <main> element instead of a <div>:

HTML:

<div class="p-body-content">

becomes:

HTML:

<main class="p-body-content">

<main>: The Main element - HTML | MDN

The <main> HTML element represents the dominant content of the <body> of a document. The main content area consists of content that is directly related to or expands upon the central topic of a document, or the central functionality of an application.

developer.mozilla.org

XenForo is already using most of the semantic elements available in HTML5 (<article>, <aside>, <footer>, <header>, <nav>, <section>, <time>, etc.). Google Speedtest Insights is crabbing about missing <main> these days, and the change is about as easy as can be.

Chris D · Apr 21, 2026

"We can't use that, it's not supported by Internet Explorer"

Is probably something we said at the time...

Forsaken · Apr 22, 2026

Chris D said:
"We can't use that, it's not supported by Internet Explorer"

Is probably something we said at the time...

It wasn't pushed as a recommendation when semantic markup was first released, but they've slowly become more pushy about it.

Wildcat Media · Tuesday at 3:12 PM

Chris D said:
"We can't use that, it's not supported by Internet Explorer"

Mark my words...given our ancient forum membership and number of geriatrics using outdated OSes and browsers to access us (and complain about every upgrade we do), we'll quickly weed out the remaining IE users on this planet if we use <main>.

Honestly, it's so tiring dealing with the stragglers who refuse to upgrade, or have older hardware and can't upgrade. I feel for them, yet I can't let maybe two or three members out of a thousand hold back our progress.

briansol · Tuesday at 3:41 PM

There's no reason to support 10+ year old tech any more.
frankly, the devices don't last that long any more.

like, my grandma still has her fridge from 1965. I'm on my 5th one since 2005.

Wildcat Media · Tuesday at 4:05 PM

briansol said:
frankly, the devices don't last that long any more.

Unfortunately some still do. And that tiny part of our forum's membership still owns them.

That happens when members are technology-challenged, elderly, or just can't afford to replace their hardware.

And yeah, it's frustrating for those of us on the staff trying to explain to them how using WinXP and IE6 probably isn't the best idea in today's modern Internet.

Having to deal with these users is the one fly in the ointment we all deal with. But we still move on, regardless.

briansol said:
like, my grandma still has her fridge from 1965. I'm on my 5th one since 2005.

We just got a new fridge in April. It died the weekend I went to a trade show (second weekend in April). They pick the worst time to die and yeah...they're not made like they used to be! (Ours was about 20 years old.)

Use <main> element

digitalpoint

Well-known member

<main>: The Main element - HTML | MDN

Chris D

XenForo developer

Forsaken

Well-known member

Wildcat Media

Well-known member

briansol

Well-known member

Wildcat Media

Well-known member

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