diff --git a/crates/xilem_html/src/element/elements.rs b/crates/xilem_html/src/element/elements.rs
index 0c8dad54..b84a2104 100644
--- a/crates/xilem_html/src/element/elements.rs
+++ b/crates/xilem_html/src/element/elements.rs
@@ -2,94 +2,31 @@
 //!
 macro_rules! elements {
     () => {};
-    (($ty_name:ident, $builder_name:ident, $name:literal, $web_sys_ty:ty), $($rest:tt)*) => {
-        element!($ty_name, $builder_name, $name, $web_sys_ty);
+    (($ty_name:ident, $builder_name:ident, $web_sys_ty:ty), $($rest:tt)*) => {
+        element!($ty_name, $builder_name, $web_sys_ty);
         elements!($($rest)*);
     };
 }
 
 macro_rules! element {
-    ($ty_name:ident, $builder_name:ident, $name:literal, $web_sys_ty:ty) => {
-        /// A view representing a
-        #[doc = concat!("`", $name, "`")]
-        /// element.
-        pub struct $ty_name<ViewSeq>(crate::Element<$web_sys_ty, ViewSeq>);
+    ($ty_name:ident, $builder_name:ident, $web_sys_ty:ty) => {
+        /// Tag for a
+        #[doc = concat!("`", stringify!($builder_name), "`")]
+        /// view.
+        pub struct $ty_name;
+
+        impl $crate::element::ElementTag for $ty_name {
+            type WebSysElement = $web_sys_ty;
+            fn name() -> &'static str {
+                stringify!($builder_name)
+            }
+        }
 
         /// Builder function for a
-        #[doc = concat!("`", $name, "`")]
+        #[doc = concat!("`", stringify!($builder_name), "`")]
         /// view.
-        pub fn $builder_name<ViewSeq>(children: ViewSeq) -> $ty_name<ViewSeq> {
-            $ty_name(crate::element($name, children))
-        }
-
-        impl<ViewSeq> $ty_name<ViewSeq> {
-            /// Set an attribute on this element.
-            ///
-            /// # Panics
-            ///
-            /// If the name contains characters that are not valid in an attribute name,
-            /// then the `View::build`/`View::rebuild` functions will panic for this view.
-            pub fn attr(
-                mut self,
-                name: impl Into<std::borrow::Cow<'static, str>>,
-                value: impl Into<std::borrow::Cow<'static, str>>,
-            ) -> Self {
-                self.0.set_attr(name, value);
-                self
-            }
-
-            /// Set an attribute on this element.
-            ///
-            /// # Panics
-            ///
-            /// If the name contains characters that are not valid in an attribute name,
-            /// then the `View::build`/`View::rebuild` functions will panic for this view.
-            pub fn set_attr(
-                &mut self,
-                name: impl Into<std::borrow::Cow<'static, str>>,
-                value: impl Into<std::borrow::Cow<'static, str>>,
-            ) -> &mut Self {
-                self.0.set_attr(name, value);
-                self
-            }
-        }
-
-        impl<ViewSeq> crate::view::ViewMarker for $ty_name<ViewSeq> {}
-
-        impl<T_, A_, ViewSeq> crate::view::View<T_, A_> for $ty_name<ViewSeq>
-        where
-            ViewSeq: crate::view::ViewSequence<T_, A_>,
-        {
-            type State = crate::ElementState<ViewSeq::State>;
-            type Element = $web_sys_ty;
-
-            fn build(
-                &self,
-                cx: &mut crate::context::Cx,
-            ) -> (xilem_core::Id, Self::State, Self::Element) {
-                self.0.build(cx)
-            }
-
-            fn rebuild(
-                &self,
-                cx: &mut crate::context::Cx,
-                prev: &Self,
-                id: &mut xilem_core::Id,
-                state: &mut Self::State,
-                element: &mut Self::Element,
-            ) -> crate::ChangeFlags {
-                self.0.rebuild(cx, &prev.0, id, state, element)
-            }
-
-            fn message(
-                &self,
-                id_path: &[xilem_core::Id],
-                state: &mut Self::State,
-                message: Box<dyn std::any::Any>,
-                app_state: &mut T_,
-            ) -> xilem_core::MessageResult<A_> {
-                self.0.message(id_path, state, message, app_state)
-            }
+        pub fn $builder_name<ViewSeq>(children: ViewSeq) -> $crate::Element<$ty_name, ViewSeq> {
+            crate::element(stringify!($builder_name), children)
         }
     };
 }
@@ -102,131 +39,121 @@ elements!(
     // DOM interfaces copied from https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/grouping-content.html and friends
 
     // content sectioning
-    (Address, address, "address", web_sys::HtmlElement),
-    (Article, article, "article", web_sys::HtmlElement),
-    (Aside, aside, "aside", web_sys::HtmlElement),
-    (Footer, footer, "footer", web_sys::HtmlElement),
-    (Header, header, "header", web_sys::HtmlElement),
-    (H1, h1, "h1", web_sys::HtmlHeadingElement),
-    (H2, h2, "h2", web_sys::HtmlHeadingElement),
-    (H3, h3, "h3", web_sys::HtmlHeadingElement),
-    (H4, h4, "h4", web_sys::HtmlHeadingElement),
-    (H5, h5, "h5", web_sys::HtmlHeadingElement),
-    (H6, h6, "h6", web_sys::HtmlHeadingElement),
-    (Hgroup, hgroup, "hgroup", web_sys::HtmlElement),
-    (Main, main, "main", web_sys::HtmlElement),
-    (Nav, nav, "nav", web_sys::HtmlElement),
-    (Section, section, "section", web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (Address, address, web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (Article, article, web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (Aside, aside, web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (Footer, footer, web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (Header, header, web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (H1, h1, web_sys::HtmlHeadingElement),
+    (H2, h2, web_sys::HtmlHeadingElement),
+    (H3, h3, web_sys::HtmlHeadingElement),
+    (H4, h4, web_sys::HtmlHeadingElement),
+    (H5, h5, web_sys::HtmlHeadingElement),
+    (H6, h6, web_sys::HtmlHeadingElement),
+    (Hgroup, hgroup, web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (Main, main, web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (Nav, nav, web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (Section, section, web_sys::HtmlElement),
     // text content
-    (
-        Blockquote,
-        blockquote,
-        "blockquote",
-        web_sys::HtmlQuoteElement
-    ),
-    (Dd, dd, "dd", web_sys::HtmlElement),
-    (Div, div, "div", web_sys::HtmlDivElement),
-    (Dl, dl, "dl", web_sys::HtmlDListElement),
-    (Dt, dt, "dt", web_sys::HtmlElement),
-    (Figcaption, figcaption, "figcaption", web_sys::HtmlElement),
-    (Figure, figure, "figure", web_sys::HtmlElement),
-    (Hr, hr, "hr", web_sys::HtmlHrElement),
-    (Li, li, "li", web_sys::HtmlLiElement),
-    (Menu, menu, "menu", web_sys::HtmlMenuElement),
-    (Ol, ol, "ol", web_sys::HtmlOListElement),
-    (P, p, "p", web_sys::HtmlParagraphElement),
-    (Pre, pre, "pre", web_sys::HtmlPreElement),
-    (Ul, ul, "ul", web_sys::HtmlUListElement),
+    (Blockquote, blockquote, web_sys::HtmlQuoteElement),
+    (Dd, dd, web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (Div, div, web_sys::HtmlDivElement),
+    (Dl, dl, web_sys::HtmlDListElement),
+    (Dt, dt, web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (Figcaption, figcaption, web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (Figure, figure, web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (Hr, hr, web_sys::HtmlHrElement),
+    (Li, li, web_sys::HtmlLiElement),
+    (Menu, menu, web_sys::HtmlMenuElement),
+    (Ol, ol, web_sys::HtmlOListElement),
+    (P, p, web_sys::HtmlParagraphElement),
+    (Pre, pre, web_sys::HtmlPreElement),
+    (Ul, ul, web_sys::HtmlUListElement),
     // inline text
-    (A, a, "a", web_sys::HtmlAnchorElement),
-    (Abbr, abbr, "abbr", web_sys::HtmlElement),
-    (B, b, "b", web_sys::HtmlElement),
-    (Bdi, bdi, "bdi", web_sys::HtmlElement),
-    (Bdo, bdo, "bdo", web_sys::HtmlElement),
-    (Br, br, "br", web_sys::HtmlBrElement),
-    (Cite, cite, "cite", web_sys::HtmlElement),
-    (Code, code, "code", web_sys::HtmlElement),
-    (Data, data, "data", web_sys::HtmlDataElement),
-    (Dfn, dfn, "dfn", web_sys::HtmlElement),
-    (Em, em, "em", web_sys::HtmlElement),
-    (I, i, "i", web_sys::HtmlElement),
-    (Kbd, kbd, "kbd", web_sys::HtmlElement),
-    (Mark, mark, "mark", web_sys::HtmlElement),
-    (Q, q, "q", web_sys::HtmlQuoteElement),
-    (Rp, rp, "rp", web_sys::HtmlElement),
-    (Rt, rt, "rt", web_sys::HtmlElement),
-    (Ruby, ruby, "ruby", web_sys::HtmlElement),
-    (S, s, "s", web_sys::HtmlElement),
-    (Samp, samp, "samp", web_sys::HtmlElement),
-    (Small, small, "small", web_sys::HtmlElement),
-    (Span, span, "span", web_sys::HtmlSpanElement),
-    (Strong, strong, "strong", web_sys::HtmlElement),
-    (Sub, sub, "sub", web_sys::HtmlElement),
-    (Sup, sup, "sup", web_sys::HtmlElement),
-    (Time, time, "time", web_sys::HtmlTimeElement),
-    (U, u, "u", web_sys::HtmlElement),
-    (Var, var, "var", web_sys::HtmlElement),
-    (Wbr, wbr, "wbr", web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (A, a, web_sys::HtmlAnchorElement),
+    (Abbr, abbr, web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (B, b, web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (Bdi, bdi, web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (Bdo, bdo, web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (Br, br, web_sys::HtmlBrElement),
+    (Cite, cite, web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (Code, code, web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (Data, data, web_sys::HtmlDataElement),
+    (Dfn, dfn, web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (Em, em, web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (I, i, web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (Kbd, kbd, web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (Mark, mark, web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (Q, q, web_sys::HtmlQuoteElement),
+    (Rp, rp, web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (Rt, rt, web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (Ruby, ruby, web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (S, s, web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (Samp, samp, web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (Small, small, web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (Span, span, web_sys::HtmlSpanElement),
+    (Strong, strong, web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (Sub, sub, web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (Sup, sup, web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (Time, time, web_sys::HtmlTimeElement),
+    (U, u, web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (Var, var, web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (Wbr, wbr, web_sys::HtmlElement),
     // image and multimedia
-    (Area, area, "area", web_sys::HtmlAreaElement),
-    (Audio, audio, "audio", web_sys::HtmlAudioElement),
-    (Img, img, "img", web_sys::HtmlImageElement),
-    (Map, map, "map", web_sys::HtmlMapElement),
-    (Track, track, "track", web_sys::HtmlTrackElement),
-    (Video, video, "video", web_sys::HtmlVideoElement),
+    (Area, area, web_sys::HtmlAreaElement),
+    (Audio, audio, web_sys::HtmlAudioElement),
+    (Img, img, web_sys::HtmlImageElement),
+    (Map, map, web_sys::HtmlMapElement),
+    (Track, track, web_sys::HtmlTrackElement),
+    (Video, video, web_sys::HtmlVideoElement),
     // embedded content
-    (Embed, embed, "embed", web_sys::HtmlEmbedElement),
-    (Iframe, iframe, "iframe", web_sys::HtmlIFrameElement),
-    (Object, object, "object", web_sys::HtmlObjectElement),
-    (Picture, picture, "picture", web_sys::HtmlPictureElement),
-    (Portal, portal, "portal", web_sys::HtmlElement),
-    (Source, source, "source", web_sys::HtmlSourceElement),
+    (Embed, embed, web_sys::HtmlEmbedElement),
+    (Iframe, iframe, web_sys::HtmlIFrameElement),
+    (Object, object, web_sys::HtmlObjectElement),
+    (Picture, picture, web_sys::HtmlPictureElement),
+    (Portal, portal, web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (Source, source, web_sys::HtmlSourceElement),
     // SVG and MathML (TODO, svg and mathml elements)
-    (Svg, svg, "svg", web_sys::HtmlElement),
-    (Math, math, "math", web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (Svg, svg, web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (Math, math, web_sys::HtmlElement),
     // scripting
-    (Canvas, canvas, "canvas", web_sys::HtmlCanvasElement),
-    (Noscript, noscript, "noscript", web_sys::HtmlElement),
-    (Script, script, "script", web_sys::HtmlScriptElement),
+    (Canvas, canvas, web_sys::HtmlCanvasElement),
+    (Noscript, noscript, web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (Script, script, web_sys::HtmlScriptElement),
     // demarcating edits
-    (Del, del, "del", web_sys::HtmlModElement),
-    (Ins, ins, "ins", web_sys::HtmlModElement),
+    (Del, del, web_sys::HtmlModElement),
+    (Ins, ins, web_sys::HtmlModElement),
     // tables
-    (
-        Caption,
-        caption,
-        "caption",
-        web_sys::HtmlTableCaptionElement
-    ),
-    (Col, col, "col", web_sys::HtmlTableColElement),
-    (Colgroup, colgroup, "colgroup", web_sys::HtmlTableColElement),
-    (Table, table, "table", web_sys::HtmlTableSectionElement),
-    (Tbody, tbody, "tbody", web_sys::HtmlTableSectionElement),
-    (Td, td, "td", web_sys::HtmlTableCellElement),
-    (Tfoot, tfoot, "tfoot", web_sys::HtmlTableSectionElement),
-    (Th, th, "th", web_sys::HtmlTableCellElement),
-    (Thead, thead, "thead", web_sys::HtmlTableSectionElement),
-    (Tr, tr, "tr", web_sys::HtmlTableRowElement),
+    (Caption, caption, web_sys::HtmlTableCaptionElement),
+    (Col, col, web_sys::HtmlTableColElement),
+    (Colgroup, colgroup, web_sys::HtmlTableColElement),
+    (Table, table, web_sys::HtmlTableSectionElement),
+    (Tbody, tbody, web_sys::HtmlTableSectionElement),
+    (Td, td, web_sys::HtmlTableCellElement),
+    (Tfoot, tfoot, web_sys::HtmlTableSectionElement),
+    (Th, th, web_sys::HtmlTableCellElement),
+    (Thead, thead, web_sys::HtmlTableSectionElement),
+    (Tr, tr, web_sys::HtmlTableRowElement),
     // forms
-    (Button, button, "button", web_sys::HtmlButtonElement),
-    (Datalist, datalist, "datalist", web_sys::HtmlDataListElement),
-    (Fieldset, fieldset, "fieldset", web_sys::HtmlFieldSetElement),
-    (Form, form, "form", web_sys::HtmlFormElement),
-    (Input, input, "input", web_sys::HtmlInputElement),
-    (Label, label, "label", web_sys::HtmlLabelElement),
-    (Legend, legend, "legend", web_sys::HtmlLegendElement),
-    (Meter, meter, "meter", web_sys::HtmlMeterElement),
-    (Optgroup, optgroup, "optgroup", web_sys::HtmlOptGroupElement),
-    (Option, option, "option", web_sys::HtmlOptionElement),
-    (Output, output, "output", web_sys::HtmlOutputElement),
-    (Progress, progress, "progress", web_sys::HtmlProgressElement),
-    (Select, select, "select", web_sys::HtmlSelectElement),
-    (Textarea, textarea, "textarea", web_sys::HtmlTextAreaElement),
+    (Button, button, web_sys::HtmlButtonElement),
+    (Datalist, datalist, web_sys::HtmlDataListElement),
+    (Fieldset, fieldset, web_sys::HtmlFieldSetElement),
+    (Form, form, web_sys::HtmlFormElement),
+    (Input, input, web_sys::HtmlInputElement),
+    (Label, label, web_sys::HtmlLabelElement),
+    (Legend, legend, web_sys::HtmlLegendElement),
+    (Meter, meter, web_sys::HtmlMeterElement),
+    (Optgroup, optgroup, web_sys::HtmlOptGroupElement),
+    (Option, option, web_sys::HtmlOptionElement),
+    (Output, output, web_sys::HtmlOutputElement),
+    (Progress, progress, web_sys::HtmlProgressElement),
+    (Select, select, web_sys::HtmlSelectElement),
+    (Textarea, textarea, web_sys::HtmlTextAreaElement),
     // interactive elements,
-    (Details, details, "details", web_sys::HtmlDetailsElement),
-    (Dialog, dialog, "dialog", web_sys::HtmlDialogElement),
-    (Summary, summary, "summary", web_sys::HtmlElement),
+    (Details, details, web_sys::HtmlDetailsElement),
+    (Dialog, dialog, web_sys::HtmlDialogElement),
+    (Summary, summary, web_sys::HtmlElement),
     // web components,
-    (Slot, slot, "slot", web_sys::HtmlSlotElement),
-    (Template, template, "template", web_sys::HtmlTemplateElement),
+    (Slot, slot, web_sys::HtmlSlotElement),
+    (Template, template, web_sys::HtmlTemplateElement),
 );
diff --git a/crates/xilem_html/src/element/mod.rs b/crates/xilem_html/src/element/mod.rs
index 7b30ccf1..ffdbcbc9 100644
--- a/crates/xilem_html/src/element/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/xilem_html/src/element/mod.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 //! `use xilem_html::elements as el` or similar to the top of your file.
 use crate::{
     context::{ChangeFlags, Cx},
-    view::{DomElement, Pod, View, ViewMarker, ViewSequence},
+    view::{DomElement, DomNode, Pod, View, ViewMarker, ViewSequence},
 };
 
 use std::{borrow::Cow, cmp::Ordering, collections::BTreeMap, fmt, marker::PhantomData};
@@ -24,6 +24,12 @@ pub struct Element<El, Children = ()> {
     ty: PhantomData<El>,
 }
 
+pub trait ElementTag {
+    type WebSysElement: JsCast + DomElement;
+
+    fn name() -> &'static str;
+}
+
 impl<E, ViewSeq> Element<E, ViewSeq> {
     pub fn debug_as_el(&self) -> impl fmt::Debug + '_ {
         struct DebugFmt<'a, E, VS>(&'a Element<E, VS>);
@@ -100,12 +106,12 @@ impl<T, A, El, Children> View<T, A> for Element<El, Children>
 where
     Children: ViewSequence<T, A>,
     // In addition, the `E` parameter is expected to be a child of `web_sys::Node`
-    El: JsCast + DomElement,
+    El: ElementTag,
 {
     type State = ElementState<Children::State>;
-    type Element = El;
+    type Element = El::WebSysElement;
 
-    fn build(&self, cx: &mut Cx) -> (Id, Self::State, El) {
+    fn build(&self, cx: &mut Cx) -> (Id, Self::State, Self::Element) {
         let el = cx.create_html_element(&self.name);
         for (name, value) in &self.attributes {
             el.set_attribute(name, value).unwrap();
@@ -128,7 +134,7 @@ where
         prev: &Self,
         id: &mut Id,
         state: &mut Self::State,
-        element: &mut El,
+        element: &mut Self::Element,
     ) -> ChangeFlags {
         let mut changed = ChangeFlags::empty();
         // update tag name
diff --git a/crates/xilem_html/web_examples/counter/src/lib.rs b/crates/xilem_html/web_examples/counter/src/lib.rs
index 8dcb7f26..be330386 100644
--- a/crates/xilem_html/web_examples/counter/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/xilem_html/web_examples/counter/src/lib.rs
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ impl AppState {
 fn btn<A, F>(
     label: &'static str,
     click_fn: F,
-) -> evt::OnClick<AppState, A, el::Button<&'static str>, F, ()>
+) -> evt::OnClick<AppState, A, xilem_html::Element<el::Button, &'static str>, F, ()>
 where
     F: Fn(&mut AppState, &Event<web_sys::MouseEvent, web_sys::HtmlButtonElement>),
 {