What is the <nav> element used for in HTML?

The

element in HTML is specifically designed to contain navigation links. This semantic element is used to identify a section of a page that links to other pages or to parts within the current page, facilitating a user-friendly navigation experience. By marking up navigation links with the

element, it helps both users and search engines to understand the structure of the content and the relationships between various parts of the site.

Using the

element enhances accessibility, as screen readers can recognize and announce the navigation section, aiding users who rely on assistive technologies. Moreover, it helps with search engine optimization (SEO) by clearly signaling where links to crucial content can be found, potentially improving the site's ranking or indexing.

The other options do not accurately reflect the purpose of the

element:

• Defining the main content of the page pertains to using elements like
  or

  .
• Creating a side panel is more aligned with using
  for secondary content that may be related to the main content but is not necessary for its comprehension.
• Including metadata would involve the tag, which is used within the section of the HTML document to provide information about the document itself.