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The `<th>` tag (from *table header*) is used in HTML to **create table header cells**.
It looks like `<td>`, but has a **semantic and visual difference**: it indicates that the cell holds a **column or row header**, not ordinary data.

---

### Main purpose

The `<th>` tag is used to mark **table headers**, which help make clear what each column or row means.
By default, the browser:

- makes the text **bold**;
- **centers** the cell's content.

---

### Example:

```html
<table border="1">
  <tr>
    <th>Name</th>
    <th>Age</th>
    <th>City</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Maria</td>
    <td>25</td>
    <td>Warsaw</td>
  </tr>
</table>
```

Here the row with `<th>` sets the column headers, while `<td>` holds the data.

---

### The `scope` attribute

To improve accessibility (for example, for screen readers), you can specify what a header applies to:

- `scope="col"` - a column header;
- `scope="row"` - a row header.

**Example:**

```html
<tr>
  <th scope="row">January</th>
  <td>$1200</td>
</tr>
```

---

### It can also be used for side headers:

```html
<table border="1">
  <tr>
    <th>Month</th>
    <th>Sales</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <th scope="row">January</th>
    <td>1200</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <th scope="row">February</th>
    <td>1500</td>
  </tr>
</table>
```

---

### Difference between `<th>` and `<td>`:

| Tag | Purpose | Default styling |
|---|---|---|
| `<td>` | Regular table data | Normal text, left-aligned |
| `<th>` | Row or column header | Bold text, centered |

---

### Conclusion:

The `<th>` tag creates a **header cell** in a table, which helps users and search engines understand the structure of the data.
It makes the table **clear, structured, and semantically correct**.

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