The <pre> tag will show you the text exacly as written including white space.

Here is an example:

             |\_/|
            / @ @ \
           ( > º < )
            `>>x<<´
            /  O  \
        

Here is the same text using the <p> tag:

|\_/| / @ @ \ ( > º < ) `>>x<<´ / O \

The <figure> tag will create a single unit and the
<figcaption> may be used to create a visible caption.

Here is an example:

The <kbd> tag should be used to illustrate keyboard input.

Here is an example:

Type Enter to get a new line.

But it may be better with some css code:

Type Enter to get a new line.

The <code> tag should be used to show data code.

The tag are used in the headline above.

The <var> tag should be used to show variables.

Here is an example:

Newton’s second law: F = ma

The <samp> tag should be used to show output from a computer program.

Here is an example:

Illegal input, please try again.

How to format normal text.

You may use the <b> tag to get bold text. You will get the same result with the <strong> tag, but it will be interpreted as more important. Simililar, both <i> and <em> will give you text with italics. Other possibilities are <mark> for marked text, <small> for smaller text, <del> for deleted text and <ins> for inserted text. You will get the same look with <u> for underlined text.

If you need to write a formula, <sub> and <sup> may be useful: Water is the same as H₂O, E=mc². Combined with 3 x the <small> tag will give this result: H₂O and E=mc².