Is there any specific advantage/usage of using HTML5 <figure> over <img>?
I think <figure> is useless without <figurecaption>, isn't it?
It will be helpful if explain with an example.
Images are not technically inserted into an HTML page, images are linked to HTML pages. The <img> tag creates a holding space for the referenced image.
While the content of the <figure> element is related to the main flow, its position is independent of the main flow, and if removed it should not affect the flow of the document
From http://dev.w3.org/
The img element represents an image. and the The figure element represents a unit of content, optionally with a caption, that is self-contained, that is typically referenced as a single unit from the main flow of the document, and that can be moved away from the main flow of the document without affecting the document’s meaning.
The tag provides a container for content that is equivalent to a figure or diagram in a book. It can be used to group a caption with one or more images, a block of code or other content.
In other words, enables us to work more freely, realistically with images, diagrams by enabling to group them & caption one or images with a single caption.
HTML5 figure is used whenever you use img, video tag with caption (figcaption) on it
If you have a number of related images (or other content) with caption text, you can use nested figure elements to associate both a group caption and an individual caption to each instance using the figcaption element.
<figure role="group">
<img src="castle-etching.jpg" alt="The castle has one tower, and a tall wall around it.">
<figcaption>Charcoal on wood. Anonymous, circa 1423.</figcaption>
</figure>
来源：https://stackoverflow.com/questions/12453586/what-is-the-usage-of-html5-figure-with-img