Lopetustagi

Lopetustagi is a term used in some Nordic-language contexts to refer to the closing tag in markup languages. Etymology-wise, it combines lopetus, meaning ending or termination, with tagi, meaning tag. In practice, the lopetustagi marks the end of an element, appearing as a slash-prefixed tag such as </tag> that follows the element’s content.

In markup languages, end tags are contrasted with opening tags, which begin an element, and with self-closing or void forms. For example, in HTML and XML, the end tag signals the termination of the corresponding opening tag. In HTML5, some elements are void and do not require an end tag (for instance, <img> or <br>), while in XML and XHTML, end tags are generally required for all elements. End tags must match the corresponding opening tag, including tag name and case in XML. Namespaces can be used, producing forms like </ns:tag>.

Proper use of lopetustagi is essential for correctly nested structures; misplaced or missing end tags can lead to parsing errors or incorrect rendering. The concept is fundamental in the understanding of markup syntax and document structure across HTML, XML, SGML, and related languages.

In English-language materials, the standard term is closing tag or end tag. Lopetustagi serves as a direct translation used in glossaries and educational texts within Nordic-language contexts. See also: markup languages, HTML, XML, end tag, closing tag.

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