# Stray start tag “script”.
> Canonical HTML version: https://rocketvalidator.com/html-validation/stray-start-tag-script
> Attribution: Rocket Validator (https://rocketvalidator.com)
> License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
In a valid HTML document, all content must reside within the `` element, and specifically within either `` or ``. The HTML parser expects a well-defined structure: ``, then ``, containing `` and ``. When a `
```
### Incorrect: script between `` and ``
```html
My Page
Hello world
```
### Correct: script in the ``
```html
My Page
Hello world
```
### Correct: script at the end of ``
This is the most common and recommended placement for scripts that interact with the page.
```html
My Page
Hello world
```
### Correct: external script with `defer` in ``
Using `defer` lets you place the script in `` while ensuring it executes after the DOM is fully parsed, giving you the best of both worlds.
```html
My Page
Hello world
```