---
title: "Element <block>"
source: https://dev.pageseeder.com/psml/elements/element-block.html
description: "PSML Element reference for <block>"
last_updated: 2026-08-07T17:09:54+10:00
tokens: ~472
---

# \<block\>

## Summary

Labeled block of content.

A [block label](../../reference/glossary/block_label.md) is generally used to group items which are semantically related.

The equivalent inline label element is [\<inline\>](element-inline.md).

## Usage context

| Element category | block |
| --- | --- |
| PSML Level | portable |
| Permitted content | block and inline content |
| Permitted parent | `<fragment>`, `<block>`, `<item>` |
| HTML equivalent | `<div>` |
| OpenXML equivalent |  |

## Attributes

This element includes the following attributes

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| label | [label](../datatypes/pageseeder_datatypes.md) | no | Label of this block |

### `@label`

The name of the label for the block.

## Examples

A paragraph marked as a note.

```lang-xml

<block label="note">
  <para></para>
</block>
```

Since the `<block>` is a block-level element, if the content is a single paragraph, it is possible to omit the paragraph element:

```lang-xml

<block label="note">Remember this!</block>
```

## Schema

### XML Schema

```lang-xml

<xs:element name="block">

  <xs:complexType mixed="true">

    <xs:choice minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbounded">

      <xs:group ref="block-style-group"
                minOccurs="0" 
                maxOccurs="unbounded"/>

      <xs:group ref="character-style-group"
                minOccurs="0"
                maxOccurs="unbounded"/>
    </xs:choice>

    <xs:attribute name="label" type="label" use="required"/>
  </xs:complexType>
</xs:element>
```

### Relax Schema

```lang-relax

element block {
  attribute label { label },
  (character-style-group | block-style-group)*
}
```

## Compatibility

This element was introduced in the first draft of PSML and is well-supported from PageSeeder 5.1.

This element is the PSML equivalent of PSStandard's `<paraLabel>` element.