What do tags assign to content in HTML?

Tags in HTML are crucial for structuring content on web pages, and they serve to provide both formatting and meaning to the elements they enclose. When a tag is used, it defines how certain content should be treated by the browser and what semantic significance it holds.

For instance, a paragraph tag indicates that the enclosed text is a paragraph, thereby imparting meaning regarding its role in the content hierarchy. Similarly, heading tags convey the importance and structure of the text, allowing browsers (and other technologies like screen readers) to understand the relationship between different sections of the content.

While other options may touch upon related aspects of HTML, they do not encapsulate the primary function of tags as accurately. Styles and aesthetics primarily pertain to CSS, links and references might refer more to anchors and hyperlinks, and scripts and functionality are specific to JavaScript processing. The essence of tags in HTML fundamentally lies in their ability to provide meaning and format to the content they contain.