What is the main distinction between ul and ol tags in HTML?

The distinction between the ul and ol tags in HTML lies in their intended use for creating different types of lists. The ul tag denotes an "unordered list," which implies that the items within the list do not have a specific sequence or order. Typically, unordered lists are visually represented with bullet points for each list item, making it clear that the order of the items is not significant.

On the other hand, the ol tag stands for "ordered list." This tag is used for lists where the order of items is important, such as sequences or steps in a process. An ordered list is usually displayed with numbers or letters before each item, indicating a specific order that the items should be followed.

This fundamental difference in list structure—unordered for ul and ordered for ol—serves to enhance the clarity and semantic meaning of the content in HTML, ultimately aiding in better accessibility and search engine optimization.