What does code> mean in HTML?

The HTML element displays its contents styled in a fashion intended to indicate that the text is a short fragment of computer code. By default, the content text is displayed using the user agent's default monospace font. This element only includes the global attributes.

How do I represent multiple lines of code?

To represent multiple lines of code, wrap the element within a element. The element by itself only represents a single phrase of code or line of code. A CSS rule can be defined for the code selector to override the browser's default font face. Preferences set by the user might take precedence over the specified CSS.

Should HTML tags be used for their semantics?

Note: HTML tags must be used for their semantic, not their appearance. It's always possible to totally change the look and feel of a given tag using CSS so, when using HTML, take the time to focus on the meaning rather than the appearance. An "element" is a single part of a webpage. Some elements are large and hold smaller elements like containers.