In HTML5, which element is used for a standalone figure?

In HTML5, the `<figure>` element is used for a standalone figure. It represents self-contained content—such as an image, diagram, chart, code sample, or quotation—that is related to the surrounding document but can be moved away without destroying the document’s meaning.

A figure may include a caption through the `<figcaption>` element. The caption is optional, while the figure itself supplies the semantic container. For example, an image and its explanatory text can be grouped inside `<figure>`, making their relationship clear to browsers, search tools, and assistive technologies.

The main mix-up is treating `<figcaption>` as the figure element. `<figcaption>` labels a figure; it does not replace the containing `<figure>`. Similarly, `<picture>` provides responsive image sources, while `<image>` is not a standard HTML element. HTML5’s semantic elements were designed to describe meaning and structure more clearly than generic `<div>` containers.