diff --git a/php-transformer/src/HtmlToBlocks/Diagnostics/SemanticParityReporter.php b/php-transformer/src/HtmlToBlocks/Diagnostics/SemanticParityReporter.php
index 6e1c82ab..3913afd3 100644
--- a/php-transformer/src/HtmlToBlocks/Diagnostics/SemanticParityReporter.php
+++ b/php-transformer/src/HtmlToBlocks/Diagnostics/SemanticParityReporter.php
@@ -255,6 +255,11 @@ private function collectBlockNavigationLandmarks(array $blocks, array &$counts):
                 continue;
             }
 
+            if ( 'core/group' === ($block['blockName'] ?? '') && 'nav' === strtolower((string) ($block['attrs']['tagName'] ?? '')) ) {
+                ++$counts['nav'];
+                continue;
+            }
+
             if ( 'core/navigation' === ($block['blockName'] ?? '') ) {
                 ++$counts['nav'];
             }
@@ -601,9 +606,45 @@ private function collectBlockNavigationMenus(array $blocks, string $path, array
             }
 
             $blockPath = $path . '.' . $index;
+            $innerBlocks = is_array($block['innerBlocks'] ?? null) ? $block['innerBlocks'] : array();
+            if ( 'core/group' === ($block['blockName'] ?? '')
+                && 'nav' === strtolower((string) ($block['attrs']['tagName'] ?? ''))
+                && $this->containsBlockName($innerBlocks, 'core/list')
+                && ! $this->containsBlockName($innerBlocks, 'core/navigation')
+            ) {
+                $items = array();
+                $seen = array();
+                $this->collectBlockAnchorItems($innerBlocks, $items, $seen);
+                $menus[] = array(
+                    'block_path' => $blockPath,
+                    'represented_as_native_list_navigation' => true,
+                    'item_count' => count($items),
+                    'items' => $items,
+                );
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            if ( 'core/group' === ($block['blockName'] ?? '')
+                && 'nav' === strtolower((string) ($block['attrs']['tagName'] ?? ''))
+                && ! $this->containsBlockName($innerBlocks, 'core/navigation')
+            ) {
+                $items = array();
+                $seen = array();
+                $this->collectBlockAnchorItems($innerBlocks, $items, $seen);
+                if ( array() !== $items ) {
+                    $menus[] = array(
+                        'block_path' => $blockPath,
+                        'represented_as_native_group_navigation' => true,
+                        'item_count' => count($items),
+                        'items' => $items,
+                    );
+                    continue;
+                }
+            }
+
             if ( 'core/navigation' === ($block['blockName'] ?? '') ) {
                 $items = array();
-                $this->collectBlockNavigationItems(is_array($block['innerBlocks'] ?? null) ? $block['innerBlocks'] : array(), $items);
+                $this->collectBlockNavigationItems($innerBlocks, $items);
                 $menus[] = array(
                     'block_path' => $blockPath,
                     'represented_as_core_navigation' => true,
@@ -622,6 +663,24 @@ private function collectBlockNavigationMenus(array $blocks, string $path, array
         }
     }
 
+    /** @param array<int, array<string, mixed>> $blocks */
+    private function containsBlockName(array $blocks, string $name): bool
+    {
+        foreach ( $blocks as $block ) {
+            if ( ! is_array($block) ) {
+                continue;
+            }
+            if ( $name === ($block['blockName'] ?? '') ) {
+                return true;
+            }
+            if ( is_array($block['innerBlocks'] ?? null) && $this->containsBlockName($block['innerBlocks'], $name) ) {
+                return true;
+            }
+        }
+
+        return false;
+    }
+
     /**
      * A navigation whose landmark is a core/group{tagName:"nav"} carrier shares
      * that landmark with blocks hoisted out of the menu — a branding anchor, for
@@ -877,7 +936,10 @@ private function semanticParityFindings(array $sourceLandmarks, array $blockLand
                 continue;
             }
 
-            if ( true !== ($blockMenu['represented_as_core_navigation'] ?? false) ) {
+            if ( true !== ($blockMenu['represented_as_core_navigation'] ?? false)
+                && true !== ($blockMenu['represented_as_native_list_navigation'] ?? false)
+                && true !== ($blockMenu['represented_as_native_group_navigation'] ?? false)
+            ) {
                 $findings[] = array(
                     'code' => 'navigation_core_block_missing',
                     'severity' => 'warning',
diff --git a/php-transformer/src/HtmlToBlocks/Elements/AuthoredFormControlBlockConverter.php b/php-transformer/src/HtmlToBlocks/Elements/AuthoredFormControlBlockConverter.php
index 29726bbf..95e5d731 100644
--- a/php-transformer/src/HtmlToBlocks/Elements/AuthoredFormControlBlockConverter.php
+++ b/php-transformer/src/HtmlToBlocks/Elements/AuthoredFormControlBlockConverter.php
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ public function select(DOMElement $select): ?array
      *
      * @return array<string, mixed>|null
      */
-    public function input(DOMElement $input): ?array
+    public function input(DOMElement $input, ?DOMElement $label = null, bool $preserveDataAttributes = false): ?array
     {
         if ( array() === ($this->structuralPresentationDeclarations)($input) ) {
             return null;
@@ -125,7 +125,11 @@ public function input(DOMElement $input): ?array
             'disabled' => $input->hasAttribute('disabled'),
             'readOnly' => $input->hasAttribute('readonly'),
             'checked' => $input->hasAttribute('checked'),
-        ), static fn (mixed $value): bool => is_bool($value) ? $value : '' !== $value);
+            'dataAttributes' => $preserveDataAttributes ? $this->dataAttributes($input) : array(),
+            'label' => $label instanceof DOMElement ? $this->metadataBuilder->labelText($label) : '',
+            'labelClassName' => $label instanceof DOMElement ? SourceDom::attr($label, 'class') : '',
+            'labelStyle' => $label instanceof DOMElement ? SourceDom::attr($label, 'style') : '',
+        ), static fn (mixed $value): bool => is_array($value) ? array() !== $value : (is_bool($value) ? $value : '' !== $value));
         $markup = $generator->markup($attrs);
 
         return array(
@@ -137,6 +141,23 @@ public function input(DOMElement $input): ?array
         );
     }
 
+    /** @return array<string, string> */
+    private function dataAttributes(DOMElement $input): array
+    {
+        $attributes = array();
+        foreach ( $input->attributes as $attribute ) {
+            $name = strtolower($attribute->nodeName);
+            if ( 1 !== preg_match('/^data-(?!wp-)[a-z0-9_.:-]+$/', $name) ) {
+                continue;
+            }
+            $attributes[$name] = $attribute->nodeValue ?? '';
+        }
+
+        ksort($attributes);
+
+        return $attributes;
+    }
+
     /**
      * @param array<int, array<string, mixed>> $options
      */
diff --git a/php-transformer/src/HtmlToBlocks/Elements/ReadableFormControlBlockConverter.php b/php-transformer/src/HtmlToBlocks/Elements/ReadableFormControlBlockConverter.php
index d465ee76..13c1de12 100644
--- a/php-transformer/src/HtmlToBlocks/Elements/ReadableFormControlBlockConverter.php
+++ b/php-transformer/src/HtmlToBlocks/Elements/ReadableFormControlBlockConverter.php
@@ -49,6 +49,18 @@ public function convert(DOMElement $element): ?array
             return null;
         }
 
+        if ( ($this->isRuntimeDomTarget)($element) ) {
+            $this->runtimeIslandRecorder->recordControl($element);
+            if ( 'input' === $tagName ) {
+                $inputBlock = $this->authoredBlockConverter->input($element, null, true);
+                if ( null !== $inputBlock ) {
+                    return $inputBlock;
+                }
+            }
+
+            return ($this->htmlPreservationBlock)($element);
+        }
+
         if ( 'input' === $tagName && 'search' === FormControlClassifier::controlType($element) ) {
             $label = $this->metadataBuilder->label($element);
             if ( '' === $label ) {
@@ -61,11 +73,6 @@ public function convert(DOMElement $element): ?array
             return ($this->htmlPreservationBlock)($element);
         }
 
-        if ( ($this->isRuntimeDomTarget)($element) ) {
-            $this->runtimeIslandRecorder->recordControl($element);
-            return ($this->htmlPreservationBlock)($element);
-        }
-
         if ( 'select' === $tagName ) {
             $selectBlock = $this->authoredBlockConverter->select($element);
             if ( null !== $selectBlock ) {
@@ -101,6 +108,12 @@ private function convertLabel(DOMElement $element): ?array
 
                 if ( ($this->isRuntimeDomTarget)($control) ) {
                     $this->runtimeIslandRecorder->recordControl($control);
+                    if ( 1 === count($controls) && 'input' === strtolower($control->tagName) ) {
+                        $inputBlock = $this->authoredBlockConverter->input($control, $element, true);
+                        if ( null !== $inputBlock ) {
+                            return $inputBlock;
+                        }
+                    }
                     return ($this->htmlPreservationBlock)($element);
                 }
 
diff --git a/php-transformer/src/HtmlToBlocks/Generators/AuthoredInputBlockGenerator.php b/php-transformer/src/HtmlToBlocks/Generators/AuthoredInputBlockGenerator.php
index 88fe3e82..f784b792 100644
--- a/php-transformer/src/HtmlToBlocks/Generators/AuthoredInputBlockGenerator.php
+++ b/php-transformer/src/HtmlToBlocks/Generators/AuthoredInputBlockGenerator.php
@@ -36,6 +36,10 @@ public function blockJson(): array
                 'disabled' => array( 'type' => 'boolean', 'default' => false ),
                 'readOnly' => array( 'type' => 'boolean', 'default' => false ),
                 'checked' => array( 'type' => 'boolean', 'default' => false ),
+                'dataAttributes' => array( 'type' => 'object', 'default' => array() ),
+                'label' => array( 'type' => 'string', 'default' => '' ),
+                'labelClassName' => array( 'type' => 'string', 'default' => '' ),
+                'labelStyle' => array( 'type' => 'string', 'default' => '' ),
             ),
             'supports' => array( 'html' => false ),
         );
@@ -49,8 +53,11 @@ public function assets(): array
     var createElement = element.createElement;
     var attributes = __BLOCK_ATTRIBUTES__;
     function escapeAttribute( value ) { return String( value || '' ).replace( /&/g, '&amp;' ).replace( /"/g, '&quot;' ).replace( /</g, '&lt;' ).replace( />/g, '&gt;' ); }
-    function markup( attrs ) { var output = '<input'; [ 'type', 'id', 'name', 'value', 'placeholder', 'ariaLabel', 'className', 'style', 'min', 'max', 'step' ].forEach( function( key ) { if ( attrs[ key ] ) output += ' ' + ( 'className' === key ? 'class' : ( 'ariaLabel' === key ? 'aria-label' : key ) ) + '="' + escapeAttribute( attrs[ key ] ) + '"'; } ); [ 'required', 'disabled', 'readOnly', 'checked' ].forEach( function( key ) { if ( attrs[ key ] ) output += ' ' + ( 'readOnly' === key ? 'readonly' : key ); } ); return output + '>'; }
-    function edit( props ) { var attrs = props.attributes; return createElement( 'input', { type: attrs.type || 'text', id: attrs.id || undefined, name: attrs.name || undefined, value: attrs.value || undefined, placeholder: attrs.placeholder || undefined, 'aria-label': attrs.ariaLabel || undefined, className: attrs.className || undefined, style: attrs.style || undefined, min: attrs.min || undefined, max: attrs.max || undefined, step: attrs.step || undefined, required: attrs.required, disabled: attrs.disabled, readOnly: attrs.readOnly, checked: attrs.checked, onChange: function( event ) { var next = { value: event.target.value }; if ( 'checkbox' === attrs.type || 'radio' === attrs.type ) next.checked = event.target.checked; props.setAttributes( next ); } } ); }
+    function styleObject( value ) { if ( ! value ) return undefined; return String( value ).split( ';' ).reduce( function( output, declaration ) { var separator = declaration.indexOf( ':' ); if ( separator < 1 ) return output; var name = declaration.slice( 0, separator ).trim(); var property = name.indexOf( '--' ) === 0 ? name : name.replace( /-([a-z])/g, function( _, letter ) { return letter.toUpperCase(); } ); output[ property ] = declaration.slice( separator + 1 ).trim(); return output; }, {} ); }
+    function dataAttributes( attrs ) { return Object.keys( attrs.dataAttributes || {} ).reduce( function( output, name ) { if ( /^data-(?!wp-)[a-z0-9_.:-]+$/.test( name ) ) output[ name ] = attrs.dataAttributes[ name ]; return output; }, {} ); }
+    function inputProps( attrs ) { return Object.assign( { type: attrs.type || 'text', id: attrs.id || undefined, name: attrs.name || undefined, value: attrs.value || undefined, placeholder: attrs.placeholder || undefined, 'aria-label': attrs.ariaLabel || undefined, className: attrs.className || undefined, style: styleObject( attrs.style ), min: attrs.min || undefined, max: attrs.max || undefined, step: attrs.step || undefined, required: attrs.required, disabled: attrs.disabled, readOnly: attrs.readOnly, checked: attrs.checked }, dataAttributes( attrs ) ); }
+    function markup( attrs ) { var output = '<input'; [ 'type', 'id', 'name', 'value', 'placeholder', 'ariaLabel', 'className', 'style', 'min', 'max', 'step' ].forEach( function( key ) { if ( attrs[ key ] ) output += ' ' + ( 'className' === key ? 'class' : ( 'ariaLabel' === key ? 'aria-label' : key ) ) + '="' + escapeAttribute( attrs[ key ] ) + '"'; } ); Object.keys( dataAttributes( attrs ) ).sort().forEach( function( name ) { output += ' ' + name + '="' + escapeAttribute( attrs.dataAttributes[ name ] ) + '"'; } ); [ 'required', 'disabled', 'readOnly', 'checked' ].forEach( function( key ) { if ( attrs[ key ] ) output += ' ' + ( 'readOnly' === key ? 'readonly' : key ); } ); output += '>'; if ( attrs.label ) output = '<label' + ( attrs.labelClassName ? ' class="' + escapeAttribute( attrs.labelClassName ) + '"' : '' ) + ( attrs.labelStyle ? ' style="' + escapeAttribute( attrs.labelStyle ) + '"' : '' ) + '>' + escapeAttribute( attrs.label ) + output + '</label>'; return output; }
+    function edit( props ) { var attrs = props.attributes; var input = createElement( 'input', Object.assign( inputProps( attrs ), { onChange: function( event ) { var next = { value: event.target.value }; if ( 'checkbox' === attrs.type || 'radio' === attrs.type ) next.checked = event.target.checked; props.setAttributes( next ); } } ) ); return attrs.label ? createElement( 'label', { className: attrs.labelClassName || undefined, style: styleObject( attrs.labelStyle ) }, attrs.label, input ) : input; }
     function save( props ) { return createElement( element.RawHTML, null, markup( props.attributes ) ); }
     blocks.registerBlockType( 'blocks-engine/authored-input', { attributes: attributes, supports: { html: false }, edit: edit, save: save } );
 } )( window.wp.blocks, window.wp.element );
@@ -78,7 +85,27 @@ public function markup(array $attrs): string
             }
         }
 
-        return $markup . '>';
+        $dataAttributes = is_array($attrs['dataAttributes'] ?? null) ? $attrs['dataAttributes'] : array();
+        ksort($dataAttributes);
+        foreach ( $dataAttributes as $name => $value ) {
+            if ( 1 === preg_match('/^data-(?!wp-)[a-z0-9_.:-]+$/', (string) $name) ) {
+                $markup .= ' ' . $name . '="' . $escape($value) . '"';
+            }
+        }
+
+        $markup .= '>';
+        if ( '' !== (string) ($attrs['label'] ?? '') ) {
+            $labelAttributes = '';
+            if ( '' !== (string) ($attrs['labelClassName'] ?? '') ) {
+                $labelAttributes .= ' class="' . $escape($attrs['labelClassName']) . '"';
+            }
+            if ( '' !== (string) ($attrs['labelStyle'] ?? '') ) {
+                $labelAttributes .= ' style="' . $escape($attrs['labelStyle']) . '"';
+            }
+            $markup = '<label' . $labelAttributes . '>' . $escape($attrs['label']) . $markup . '</label>';
+        }
+
+        return $markup;
     }
 
     /** @return array<string, mixed> */
diff --git a/php-transformer/src/HtmlToBlocks/HtmlCompilation.php b/php-transformer/src/HtmlToBlocks/HtmlCompilation.php
index b7a537f5..dcb3d81d 100644
--- a/php-transformer/src/HtmlToBlocks/HtmlCompilation.php
+++ b/php-transformer/src/HtmlToBlocks/HtmlCompilation.php
@@ -2008,9 +2008,17 @@ private function materializeAuthorStylesheet(string $html, string $staticCss, bo
         }
         if ( str_contains($serializedBlocks, self::CSS_OWNED_GRID_CLASS) ) {
             // Core flow margins are not part of a source grid contract; the
-            // carried grid geometry (gap) owns the spacing between items. The
-            // carrier rides groups and lists, so the reset is class-scoped.
-            $beforeAuthorCssParts[] = ':root :where(.' . self::CSS_OWNED_GRID_CLASS . ')>*{margin-block-start:0;margin-block-end:0}';
+            // carried grid geometry (gap) owns the spacing between items. Native
+            // headings retain their source browser-default margins unless the
+            // author stylesheet overrides them.
+            $beforeAuthorCssParts[] = ':root :where(.' . self::CSS_OWNED_GRID_CLASS . ')>:where(:not(h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)){margin-block-start:0;margin-block-end:0}';
+        }
+        if ( str_contains($serializedBlocks, '<!-- wp:code') ) {
+            // Core makes the inner code element a full-width break-spaces block.
+            // Source pre/code is inline and inherits the preformatted whitespace
+            // contract; restore that shape while authored code rules remain free
+            // to choose typography.
+            $beforeAuthorCssParts[] = ':root :where(.wp-block-code)>code{display:inline;overflow-wrap:normal;text-align:inherit;white-space:inherit;direction:inherit}';
         }
         if ( str_contains($serializedBlocks, self::CSS_OWNED_INLINE_FLOW_CLASS) ) {
             // Block delimiters may acquire whitespace when Gutenberg saves the
@@ -4011,6 +4019,10 @@ private function isDirectChildOfStructuralLayout(DOMElement $element): bool
 
     private function requiresStandaloneInlineLayoutLeaf(DOMElement $element): bool
     {
+        if ( $this->isAtomicDirectInlineLayoutItem($element) ) {
+            return true;
+        }
+
         if ( ! $this->sourceElementClassifier->isInlineContentElement(strtolower($element->tagName))
             || '' === trim($this->runtime->stripAllTags($this->innerHtml($element))) ) {
             return false;
@@ -4024,6 +4036,15 @@ private function requiresStandaloneInlineLayoutLeaf(DOMElement $element): bool
             }
         }
 
+        // A direct semantic format followed by a block starts an inline run in
+        // the parent's flow. Keep its paragraph carrier boxless so the following
+        // block retains the source line box and default margins.
+        if ( ! $this->ancestorElement($element, 'li') instanceof DOMElement
+            && $this->isDirectFormattingRunBeforeBlock($element)
+        ) {
+            return true;
+        }
+
         $declarations = $this->styleResolver->structuralPresentationDeclarations($element);
         $display = strtolower(trim((string) ($declarations['display'] ?? 'inline')));
         if ( 'block' === $display ) {
@@ -4055,6 +4076,71 @@ private function requiresStandaloneInlineLayoutLeaf(DOMElement $element): bool
         return $this->hasAuthorSemanticMarker($element);
     }
 
+    private function isDirectFormattingRunBeforeBlock(DOMElement $element): bool
+    {
+        $parent = $element->parentNode;
+        if ( ! in_array(strtolower($element->tagName), array( 'abbr', 'b', 'cite', 'code', 'em', 'i', 'kbd', 'mark', 'samp', 'small', 'strong', 'sub', 'sup', 'time', 'var' ), true)
+            || ! $parent instanceof DOMElement
+            || $this->sourceElementClassifier->isInlineSourceElement(strtolower($parent->tagName))
+        ) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        for ( $sibling = $element->nextSibling; null !== $sibling; $sibling = $sibling->nextSibling ) {
+            if ( XML_TEXT_NODE === $sibling->nodeType && '' === trim($sibling->textContent ?? '') ) {
+                continue;
+            }
+            if ( XML_COMMENT_NODE === $sibling->nodeType ) {
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            return $sibling instanceof DOMElement
+                && ! $this->sourceElementClassifier->isInlineSourceElement(strtolower($sibling->tagName));
+        }
+
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    private function isAtomicDirectInlineLayoutItem(DOMElement $element): bool
+    {
+        $tagName = strtolower($element->tagName);
+        if ( 'a' !== $tagName && ! $this->sourceElementClassifier->isInlineContentElement($tagName) ) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        $parent = $element->parentNode;
+        if ( ! $parent instanceof DOMElement || ! $this->isStructuralLayoutElement($parent) ) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        $itemCount = 0;
+        $allowsAnchors = 'nav' === strtolower($parent->tagName);
+        $hasNonAnchor = false;
+        foreach ( $parent->childNodes as $child ) {
+            if ( XML_TEXT_NODE === $child->nodeType ) {
+                if ( '' !== trim($child->textContent ?? '') ) {
+                    return false;
+                }
+                continue;
+            }
+            if ( XML_COMMENT_NODE === $child->nodeType ) {
+                continue;
+            }
+            if ( ! $child instanceof DOMElement
+                || ( ( ! $allowsAnchors || 'a' !== strtolower($child->tagName) ) && ! $this->sourceElementClassifier->isInlineContentElement(strtolower($child->tagName)) )
+                || '' === trim($this->runtime->stripAllTags($this->innerHtml($child)))
+            ) {
+                return false;
+            }
+            $hasNonAnchor = $hasNonAnchor || 'a' !== strtolower($child->tagName);
+            ++$itemCount;
+        }
+
+        // An all-anchor nav is represented by core/navigation. Only mixed-token
+        // navigation (for example breadcrumbs) needs atomic inline carriers.
+        return 2 <= $itemCount && ( ! $allowsAnchors || $hasNonAnchor );
+    }
+
     /** @return array<string, mixed>|null */
     private function inlineLayoutCarrierBlock(DOMElement $element): ?array
     {
@@ -6183,6 +6269,12 @@ private function inlineNavigationGroupBlockFromElement(DOMElement $element): ?ar
             return null;
         }
 
+        foreach ( $element->childNodes as $child ) {
+            if ( $child instanceof DOMElement && $this->requiresStandaloneInlineLayoutLeaf($child) ) {
+                return null;
+            }
+        }
+
         $content = $this->richTextMaterializer->content($element);
         $inlineSvgContent = $this->richTextMaterializer->contentWithMaterializedSvgImages($element, $content);
         if ( null !== $inlineSvgContent ) {
diff --git a/php-transformer/src/HtmlToBlocks/Patterns/NavigationPattern.php b/php-transformer/src/HtmlToBlocks/Patterns/NavigationPattern.php
index ef2d2ca6..33d30c3d 100644
--- a/php-transformer/src/HtmlToBlocks/Patterns/NavigationPattern.php
+++ b/php-transformer/src/HtmlToBlocks/Patterns/NavigationPattern.php
@@ -40,6 +40,16 @@ public function recognize(DOMElement $element, PatternContext $context): ?Patter
             return null;
         }
 
+        // Repeated heading/list pairs are document navigation sections, not one
+        // flat menu. Let normal heading and list conversion preserve each pair.
+        if ( $this->isDirectSectionedListNavigation($element)
+            || ( in_array(strtolower($element->tagName), array( 'ul', 'ol' ), true)
+                && $element->parentNode instanceof DOMElement
+                && $this->isDirectSectionedListNavigation($element->parentNode) )
+        ) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
         if ( $this->hasNavigationChrome($element) ) {
             return null;
         }
@@ -694,6 +704,43 @@ private function directSectionLabel(DOMElement $element): ?DOMElement
         return null;
     }
 
+    private function isDirectSectionedListNavigation(DOMElement $element): bool
+    {
+        if ( 'nav' !== strtolower($element->tagName) ) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        $expectsLabel = true;
+        $sectionCount = 0;
+        foreach ( $element->childNodes as $child ) {
+            if ( XML_TEXT_NODE === $child->nodeType && '' === trim($child->textContent ?? '') ) {
+                continue;
+            }
+            if ( XML_COMMENT_NODE === $child->nodeType ) {
+                continue;
+            }
+            if ( ! $child instanceof DOMElement ) {
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            if ( $expectsLabel ) {
+                if ( ! $this->isSectionLabelElement($child) ) {
+                    return false;
+                }
+                $expectsLabel = false;
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            if ( ! in_array(strtolower($child->tagName), array( 'ul', 'ol' ), true) ) {
+                return false;
+            }
+            ++$sectionCount;
+            $expectsLabel = true;
+        }
+
+        return $expectsLabel && 2 <= $sectionCount;
+    }
+
     /** @return array<string, mixed> */
     private function nestedLabeledNavigationAttributes(DOMElement $element, callable $presentationAttributes): array
     {
diff --git a/php-transformer/src/HtmlToBlocks/Style/AuthorStylesheetProjector.php b/php-transformer/src/HtmlToBlocks/Style/AuthorStylesheetProjector.php
index 6af71f65..16f83e2b 100644
--- a/php-transformer/src/HtmlToBlocks/Style/AuthorStylesheetProjector.php
+++ b/php-transformer/src/HtmlToBlocks/Style/AuthorStylesheetProjector.php
@@ -461,7 +461,9 @@ static function (DOMElement $element) use ($shellTags, $context): string {
             $hasNonProjected = false;
             foreach ( $matches as $element ) {
                 $path = $element->getNodePath() ?? '';
-                if ( $context->selectorProjections->isInlineLayoutCarrierPath($path) ) {
+                if ( $this->isPreservedCodeSyntaxElement($element) ) {
+                    $hasNonProjected = true;
+                } elseif ( $context->selectorProjections->isInlineLayoutCarrierPath($path) ) {
                     $inlineLayoutCarriers = true;
                 } elseif ( '' !== ($marker = $context->selectorProjections->controlMarker($path)) ) {
                     $controls[] = $marker;
@@ -500,6 +502,20 @@ static function (DOMElement $element) use ($shellTags, $context): string {
         return implode(',', $rewritten);
     }
 
+    private function isPreservedCodeSyntaxElement(DOMElement $element): bool
+    {
+        for ( $ancestor = $element->parentNode; $ancestor instanceof DOMElement; $ancestor = $ancestor->parentNode ) {
+            if ( 'code' !== strtolower($ancestor->tagName) ) {
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            return $ancestor->parentNode instanceof DOMElement
+                && 'pre' === strtolower($ancestor->parentNode->tagName);
+        }
+
+        return false;
+    }
+
     /** @param array<string, mixed> $parsed @return list<string> */
     private function projectDormantAncestorControlSelector(
         string $selector,
@@ -793,6 +809,8 @@ private function rewriteSourceTagTypes(string $selector, array $parsed, AuthorSt
             $marker = $context->selectorProjections->tagMarker((string) $typeSpan['name']);
             if ( '' !== $marker ) {
                 $replacements[$typeSpan['start']] = array( 'end' => $typeSpan['end'], 'value' => ':where(.' . $marker . ')' . $this->typeSpecificityShim($context) );
+            } elseif ( 'code' === strtolower((string) $typeSpan['name']) ) {
+                $replacements[$typeSpan['start']] = array( 'end' => $typeSpan['end'], 'value' => 'code:not(.' . $context->authorStyles->classSpecificityShim() . ')' );
             }
         }
         if ( '' !== $rightmostInsertion ) {
diff --git a/php-transformer/tests/contract/run.php b/php-transformer/tests/contract/run.php
index 6305e5e0..75ef5f35 100644
--- a/php-transformer/tests/contract/run.php
+++ b/php-transformer/tests/contract/run.php
@@ -1314,13 +1314,33 @@ public function recognize(DOMElement $element, PatternContext $context): ?Patter
 $assert(! str_contains($classOwnedFlexMarkup, 'is-layout-flex'), 'class-owned CSS flex avoids WP layout classes that override exact source layout');
 
 $inlineBreadcrumb = ( new HtmlTransformer() )->transform(
-    '<style>.crumb{padding:20px 0 0}.crumb .sep{margin:0 .6rem}</style><main><nav class="crumb" aria-label="Breadcrumb"><a href="/exhibitions">Exhibitions</a><span class="sep">/</span><span>Current</span></nav><section>Exhibition</section></main>'
+    '<style>.crumb{display:flex;gap:.5rem;padding:20px 0 0}.crumb > a{color:blue}.crumb > .sep{color:#666}</style><main><nav class="crumb" aria-label="Breadcrumb"><a href="/exhibitions">Exhibitions</a><span class="sep">/</span><span>Current</span></nav><section>Exhibition</section></main>'
 )->toArray();
 $inlineBreadcrumbMarkup = (string) ($inlineBreadcrumb['serialized_blocks'] ?? '');
+$inlineBreadcrumbCss = implode("\n", array_column($inlineBreadcrumb['assets'] ?? array(), 'content'));
 $inlineBreadcrumbNavMarkup = strstr($inlineBreadcrumbMarkup, '</nav>', true) ?: '';
-$assert(str_contains($inlineBreadcrumbMarkup, '<nav class="wp-block-group crumb"'), 'inline-only semantic navigation retains its nav group wrapper');
-$assert(1 === substr_count($inlineBreadcrumbNavMarkup, '<!-- wp:paragraph'), 'inline-only semantic navigation keeps one RichText flow instead of stacking each token');
+$assert(str_contains($inlineBreadcrumbMarkup, '<nav class="wp-block-group crumb '), 'inline-only semantic navigation retains its nav group wrapper');
+$assert(3 === substr_count($inlineBreadcrumbNavMarkup, '<p class="blocks-engine-inline-layout-carrier">'), 'authored flex navigation keeps each direct token as an atomic layout item');
 $assert(str_contains($inlineBreadcrumbMarkup, '<a href="/exhibitions">Exhibitions</a>') && str_contains($inlineBreadcrumbMarkup, '>Current<'), 'inline-only semantic navigation preserves link and text token order');
+$assert(str_contains($inlineBreadcrumbCss, '.crumb > p.blocks-engine-inline-layout-carrier > a{color:blue}') && str_contains($inlineBreadcrumbCss, '.crumb > p.blocks-engine-inline-layout-carrier > .sep{color:#666}'), 'authored flex navigation projects direct-child selectors through inline layout carriers');
+$assert('pass' === ($inlineBreadcrumb['source_reports']['wp_block_validity']['status'] ?? ''), 'authored flex navigation carriers remain editor-valid');
+
+$anchorMenu = ( new HtmlTransformer() )->transform(
+    '<style>.site-header nav{display:flex}.site-header .nav-action{padding:.58rem .9rem;border:1px solid #fff}</style><header class="site-header"><nav><a href="#pipeline">Pipeline</a><a class="nav-action" href="#maintenance">Maintenance</a></nav></header>'
+)->toArray();
+$anchorMenuMarkup = (string) ($anchorMenu['serialized_blocks'] ?? '');
+$anchorMenuCss = implode("\n", array_column($anchorMenu['assets'] ?? array(), 'content'));
+$assert(str_contains($anchorMenuMarkup, '<!-- wp:navigation '), 'all-anchor flex navigation remains a native navigation block');
+$assert(str_contains($anchorMenuCss, '.site-header .nav-action{padding:.58rem .9rem;border:1px solid #fff}'), 'all-anchor navigation preserves class selectors on native navigation items');
+$assert(! str_contains($anchorMenuCss, 'blocks-engine-inline-layout-carrier > .nav-action'), 'all-anchor navigation selectors are not projected through absent inline carriers');
+
+$leadingFlowFormat = ( new HtmlTransformer() )->transform(
+    '<main><div class="callout"><strong>Private beta</strong><p>Use your workspace token.</p></div><p>Ordinary <strong>inline prose</strong> remains together.</p></main>'
+)->toArray();
+$leadingFlowFormatMarkup = (string) ($leadingFlowFormat['serialized_blocks'] ?? '');
+$assert(str_contains($leadingFlowFormatMarkup, '<p class="blocks-engine-inline-layout-carrier"><strong>Private beta</strong></p>'), 'a leading semantic format before a block uses a boxless valid carrier');
+$assert(str_contains($leadingFlowFormatMarkup, '<p>Ordinary <strong>inline prose</strong> remains together.</p>'), 'ordinary inline prose remains one RichText flow');
+$assert('pass' === ($leadingFlowFormat['source_reports']['wp_block_validity']['status'] ?? ''), 'leading semantic flow carriers remain editor-valid');
 
 $outlineButton = ( new HtmlTransformer() )->transform(
     '<main><a class="btn btn-secondary" style="display:inline-block;padding:1rem 2rem;border:1px solid #c4a070;background:transparent;color:#eee;text-transform:uppercase" href="/tickets"><span>Tickets</span></a></main>'
@@ -1946,6 +1966,16 @@ public function recognize(DOMElement $element, PatternContext $context): ?Patter
 $assert('core/preformatted' === ($preAndCodeBlocks[1]['blockName'] ?? ''), 'ordinary pre content remains preformatted');
 $assert('core/code' === ($preAndCodeBlocks[2]['blockName'] ?? ''), 'ordinary pre/code content remains code');
 
+$syntaxCodeResult = ( new HtmlTransformer() )->transform(
+    '<style>code{font-family:ui-monospace,monospace}.token.comment{color:#8ea0c8}.token.function{color:#7dd3fc}</style><pre><code><span class="token comment"># npm</span> <span class="token function">install</span></code></pre>'
+)->toArray();
+$syntaxCodeMarkup = (string) ($syntaxCodeResult['serialized_blocks'] ?? '');
+$syntaxCodeCss = implode("\n", array_column($syntaxCodeResult['assets'] ?? array(), 'content'));
+$assert(str_contains($syntaxCodeMarkup, '<span class="token comment"># npm</span>') && str_contains($syntaxCodeMarkup, '<span class="token function">install</span>'), 'core code preserves sanitized syntax-token markup');
+$assert(str_contains($syntaxCodeCss, '.token.comment{color:#8ea0c8}') && str_contains($syntaxCodeCss, '.token.function{color:#7dd3fc}'), 'syntax-token selectors remain targeted at their preserved core code descendants');
+$assert(1 === preg_match('/code:not\(\.blocks-engine-specificity-class-[^)]+\)\{/', $syntaxCodeCss) && str_contains($syntaxCodeCss, ':where(.wp-block-code)>code{display:inline;overflow-wrap:normal;text-align:inherit;white-space:inherit;direction:inherit}'), 'native code keeps source inline preformatted geometry and authored code typography precedence');
+$assert('pass' === ($syntaxCodeResult['source_reports']['wp_block_validity']['status'] ?? ''), 'syntax-token core code remains editor-valid');
+
 $linkedLogoResult = ( new HtmlTransformer() )->transform(
     '<main><a class="site-logo" href="/">Mara Vale</a></main>'
 )->toArray();
@@ -2807,16 +2837,19 @@ public function recognize(DOMElement $element, PatternContext $context): ?Patter
     '<main><nav aria-label="Main navigation"><ul><li><a href="/">Home</a></li></ul><p>Unexpected helper copy</p></nav></main>'
 )->toArray();
 $unmappedSemanticParity = $unmappedNavigation['source_reports']['semantic_parity'] ?? array();
-$unmappedFinding = $unmappedSemanticParity['findings'][0] ?? array();
-$unmappedNavigationFinding = $unmappedSemanticParity['findings'][1] ?? array();
-$assert('warning' === ($unmappedSemanticParity['status'] ?? ''), 'semantic parity warns when source nav is not represented as core navigation');
-$assert('landmark_count_mismatch' === ($unmappedFinding['code'] ?? ''), 'semantic parity reports a precise missing nav landmark finding');
-$assert('nav' === ($unmappedFinding['kind'] ?? ''), 'semantic parity missing landmark finding names the nav kind');
-$assert(1 === ($unmappedFinding['source_count'] ?? null), 'semantic parity missing landmark finding exposes source count');
-$assert(0 === ($unmappedFinding['block_count'] ?? null), 'semantic parity missing landmark finding exposes generated block count');
-$assert('navigation_menu_missing' === ($unmappedNavigationFinding['code'] ?? ''), 'semantic parity reports missing navigation menu diagnostics');
-$assert(array('label' => 'Home', 'url' => '/') === (($unmappedNavigationFinding['source_items'] ?? array())[0] ?? array()), 'semantic parity missing navigation diagnostics expose source nav items');
-$assert(array() === ($unmappedNavigationFinding['block_items'] ?? null), 'semantic parity missing navigation diagnostics expose empty generated nav items');
+$assert('pass' === ($unmappedSemanticParity['status'] ?? ''), 'semantic parity accepts a native list retained inside a nav-tagged Group');
+$assert(1 === ($unmappedSemanticParity['landmarks']['blocks']['nav'] ?? null), 'semantic parity recognizes a native nav-tagged Group landmark');
+$assert(true === ($unmappedSemanticParity['navigation_menus']['blocks'][0]['represented_as_native_list_navigation'] ?? false), 'semantic parity identifies the native list navigation representation');
+$assert(array('label' => 'Home', 'url' => '/') === (($unmappedSemanticParity['navigation_menus']['blocks'][0]['items'] ?? array())[0] ?? array()), 'semantic parity extracts native list navigation items');
+
+$breadcrumbNavigation = ( new HtmlTransformer() )->transform(
+    '<main><nav class="breadcrumbs" style="display:flex"><a href="/">Docs</a><span>/</span><a href="#guide">Guide</a><span>/</span><span>Current</span></nav><nav class="pagination"><a href="/">Previous</a><a href="#next">Next</a></nav></main>'
+)->toArray();
+$breadcrumbSemanticParity = $breadcrumbNavigation['source_reports']['semantic_parity'] ?? array();
+$assert('pass' === ($breadcrumbSemanticParity['status'] ?? ''), 'semantic parity pairs a native breadcrumb nav Group independently from adjacent core navigation');
+$assert(2 === count($breadcrumbSemanticParity['navigation_menus']['blocks'] ?? array()), 'semantic parity inventories both breadcrumb and pagination navigation representations');
+$assert(true === ($breadcrumbSemanticParity['navigation_menus']['blocks'][0]['represented_as_native_group_navigation'] ?? false), 'semantic parity identifies a direct-anchor nav Group representation');
+$assert(array('label' => 'Guide', 'url' => '#guide') === (($breadcrumbSemanticParity['navigation_menus']['blocks'][0]['items'] ?? array())[1] ?? array()), 'semantic parity extracts direct-anchor nav Group items in document order');
 
 $quoteCitationFooter = ( new HtmlTransformer() )->transform(
     '<main><section><blockquote><p>Lovely dinner.</p><footer>Local Guide</footer></blockquote></section></main><footer>Restaurant footer</footer>'
diff --git a/php-transformer/tests/fixtures/parity/artifact-inline-style-extraction-base64.json b/php-transformer/tests/fixtures/parity/artifact-inline-style-extraction-base64.json
index 044319cc..2e8ade56 100644
--- a/php-transformer/tests/fixtures/parity/artifact-inline-style-extraction-base64.json
+++ b/php-transformer/tests/fixtures/parity/artifact-inline-style-extraction-base64.json
@@ -26,10 +26,10 @@
   "expect": [
     { "path": "status", "assert": "equals", "value": "success" },
     { "path": "assets", "assert": "count", "count": 2 },
-    { "path": "assets.0.path", "assert": "equals", "value": "assets/css/engine-support-before-author-1bc4612eaf6123ea.css" },
+    { "path": "assets.0.path", "assert": "equals", "value": "assets/css/engine-support-before-author-5da3a09c4c9ec324.css" },
     { "path": "assets.0.source", "assert": "equals", "value": "engine-support" },
     { "path": "assets.0.stylesheet_placement", "assert": "equals", "value": "before-author" },
-    { "path": "assets.0.content", "assert": "contains", "value": ":root :where(.blocks-engine-css-owned-grid)>*{margin-block-start:0;margin-block-end:0}" },
+    { "path": "assets.0.content", "assert": "contains", "value": ":root :where(.blocks-engine-css-owned-grid)>:where(:not(h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)){margin-block-start:0;margin-block-end:0}" },
     { "path": "assets.0.content", "assert": "contains", "value": ":root :where(.blocks-engine-css-owned-layout)>.block-editor-inner-blocks>.block-editor-block-list__layout{display:contents}" },
     { "path": "assets.0.content", "assert": "contains", "value": ":root :where(.wp-block-custom-layout-shell) .blocks-engine-layout-shell-editor-inner-blocks{display:contents}" },
     { "path": "assets.1.path", "assert": "equals", "value": "index.inline.css" },
diff --git a/php-transformer/tests/fixtures/parity/artifact-inline-style-extraction.json b/php-transformer/tests/fixtures/parity/artifact-inline-style-extraction.json
index 3f31e7c0..00c07638 100644
--- a/php-transformer/tests/fixtures/parity/artifact-inline-style-extraction.json
+++ b/php-transformer/tests/fixtures/parity/artifact-inline-style-extraction.json
@@ -26,10 +26,10 @@
   "expect": [
     { "path": "status", "assert": "equals", "value": "success" },
     { "path": "assets", "assert": "count", "count": 2 },
-    { "path": "assets.0.path", "assert": "equals", "value": "assets/css/engine-support-before-author-1bc4612eaf6123ea.css" },
+    { "path": "assets.0.path", "assert": "equals", "value": "assets/css/engine-support-before-author-5da3a09c4c9ec324.css" },
     { "path": "assets.0.source", "assert": "equals", "value": "engine-support" },
     { "path": "assets.0.stylesheet_placement", "assert": "equals", "value": "before-author" },
-    { "path": "assets.0.content", "assert": "contains", "value": ":root :where(.blocks-engine-css-owned-grid)>*{margin-block-start:0;margin-block-end:0}" },
+    { "path": "assets.0.content", "assert": "contains", "value": ":root :where(.blocks-engine-css-owned-grid)>:where(:not(h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)){margin-block-start:0;margin-block-end:0}" },
     { "path": "assets.0.content", "assert": "contains", "value": ":root :where(.blocks-engine-css-owned-layout)>.block-editor-inner-blocks>.block-editor-block-list__layout{display:contents}" },
     { "path": "assets.0.content", "assert": "contains", "value": ":root :where(.wp-block-custom-layout-shell) .blocks-engine-layout-shell-editor-inner-blocks{display:contents}" },
     { "path": "assets.1.path", "assert": "equals", "value": "index.inline.css" },
diff --git a/php-transformer/tests/fixtures/parity/html-code-syntax-token-styles.json b/php-transformer/tests/fixtures/parity/html-code-syntax-token-styles.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b45c3a62
--- /dev/null
+++ b/php-transformer/tests/fixtures/parity/html-code-syntax-token-styles.json
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+{
+  "schema": "blocks-engine/php-transformer/parity-fixture/v1",
+  "name": "html-code-syntax-token-styles",
+  "description": "Preserves sanitized syntax token markup and its authored selectors in a native Code block.",
+  "source_reference": {
+    "repo": "php-transformer",
+    "path": "tests/fixtures/parity/html-code-syntax-token-styles.json",
+    "notes": "Generic server-rendered syntax highlighting coverage."
+  },
+  "legacy_comparison": {
+    "skip": true,
+    "reason": "Syntax token selector retention is an upstream primitive with no legacy comparison."
+  },
+  "operation": "html_transformer.transform",
+  "input": {
+    "content": "<pre><code><span class=\"token comment\"># npm</span> <span class=\"token function\">install</span></code></pre>",
+    "options": {
+      "static_css": "code{font-family:ui-monospace,monospace}.token.comment{color:#8ea0c8}.token.function{color:#7dd3fc}"
+    }
+  },
+  "expected_blocks": [
+    { "path": "blocks.0", "name": "core/code" }
+  ],
+  "expected_fallbacks": [],
+  "expect": [
+    { "path": "status", "assert": "equals", "value": "success" },
+    { "path": "fallbacks", "assert": "count", "count": 0 },
+    { "path": "serialized_blocks", "assert": "contains", "value": "<span class=\"token comment\"># npm</span>" },
+    { "path": "serialized_blocks", "assert": "contains", "value": "<span class=\"token function\">install</span>" },
+    { "path": "serialized_blocks", "assert": "not_contains", "value": "<!-- wp:html" },
+    { "path": "source_reports.wp_block_validity.status", "assert": "equals", "value": "pass" },
+    { "path": "coverage.0.fallback_count", "assert": "equals", "value": 0 }
+  ]
+}
diff --git a/php-transformer/tests/fixtures/parity/html-flex-breadcrumb-layout-items.json b/php-transformer/tests/fixtures/parity/html-flex-breadcrumb-layout-items.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2a1918d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/php-transformer/tests/fixtures/parity/html-flex-breadcrumb-layout-items.json
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+{
+  "schema": "blocks-engine/php-transformer/parity-fixture/v1",
+  "name": "html-flex-breadcrumb-layout-items",
+  "description": "Preserves direct breadcrumb tokens as atomic items of their authored flex layout.",
+  "source_reference": {
+    "repo": "php-transformer",
+    "path": "tests/fixtures/parity/html-flex-breadcrumb-layout-items.json",
+    "notes": "Generic direct phrasing-child flex coverage without broad standalone span promotion."
+  },
+  "legacy_comparison": {
+    "skip": true,
+    "reason": "Atomic flex token carriers are an upstream primitive with no legacy comparison."
+  },
+  "operation": "html_transformer.transform",
+  "input": {
+    "content": "<nav class=\"breadcrumbs\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\"><a href=\"/\">Docs</a><span>/</span><a href=\"#install\">Getting started</a><span>/</span><span>Integration guide</span></nav>",
+    "options": {
+      "static_css": ".breadcrumbs{display:flex;gap:.5rem;align-items:center;padding:1rem}.breadcrumbs>a{color:blue}"
+    }
+  },
+  "expected_blocks": [
+    { "path": "blocks.0", "name": "core/group" },
+    { "path": "blocks.0.innerBlocks.0", "name": "core/paragraph" },
+    { "path": "blocks.0.innerBlocks.1", "name": "core/paragraph" },
+    { "path": "blocks.0.innerBlocks.2", "name": "core/paragraph" },
+    { "path": "blocks.0.innerBlocks.3", "name": "core/paragraph" },
+    { "path": "blocks.0.innerBlocks.4", "name": "core/paragraph" }
+  ],
+  "expected_fallbacks": [],
+  "expect": [
+    { "path": "status", "assert": "equals", "value": "success" },
+    { "path": "fallbacks", "assert": "count", "count": 0 },
+    { "path": "serialized_blocks", "assert": "contains", "value": "breadcrumbs blocks-engine-css-owned-layout" },
+    { "path": "serialized_blocks", "assert": "contains", "value": "blocks-engine-inline-layout-carrier" },
+    { "path": "serialized_blocks", "assert": "not_contains", "value": "<!-- wp:html" },
+    { "path": "source_reports.wp_block_validity.status", "assert": "equals", "value": "pass" },
+    { "path": "coverage.0.fallback_count", "assert": "equals", "value": 0 }
+  ]
+}
diff --git a/php-transformer/tests/fixtures/parity/html-leading-format-flow-carrier.json b/php-transformer/tests/fixtures/parity/html-leading-format-flow-carrier.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fee1ed9f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/php-transformer/tests/fixtures/parity/html-leading-format-flow-carrier.json
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+{
+  "schema": "blocks-engine/php-transformer/parity-fixture/v1",
+  "name": "html-leading-format-flow-carrier",
+  "description": "Preserves a leading semantic inline format before a block sibling without introducing paragraph geometry.",
+  "source_reference": {
+    "repo": "php-transformer",
+    "path": "tests/fixtures/parity/html-leading-format-flow-carrier.json",
+    "notes": "Generic callout and labeled prose-flow coverage."
+  },
+  "legacy_comparison": {
+    "skip": true,
+    "reason": "Boxless semantic flow carriers are an upstream primitive with no legacy comparison."
+  },
+  "operation": "html_transformer.transform",
+  "input": {
+    "content": "<main><div class=\"callout\"><strong>Private beta</strong><p>Use your workspace token.</p></div><p>Ordinary <strong>inline prose</strong> remains together.</p></main>",
+    "options": {
+      "static_css": ".callout{padding:1rem;border-left:5px solid blue}"
+    }
+  },
+  "expected_blocks": [
+    { "path": "blocks.0", "name": "core/group" },
+    { "path": "blocks.0.innerBlocks.0", "name": "core/group" },
+    { "path": "blocks.0.innerBlocks.0.innerBlocks.0", "name": "core/paragraph" },
+    { "path": "blocks.0.innerBlocks.0.innerBlocks.1", "name": "core/paragraph" },
+    { "path": "blocks.0.innerBlocks.1", "name": "core/paragraph" }
+  ],
+  "expected_fallbacks": [],
+  "expect": [
+    { "path": "status", "assert": "equals", "value": "success" },
+    { "path": "fallbacks", "assert": "count", "count": 0 },
+    { "path": "serialized_blocks", "assert": "contains", "value": "<p class=\"blocks-engine-inline-layout-carrier\"><strong>Private beta</strong></p>" },
+    { "path": "serialized_blocks", "assert": "contains", "value": "<p>Ordinary <strong>inline prose</strong> remains together.</p>" },
+    { "path": "serialized_blocks", "assert": "not_contains", "value": "<!-- wp:html" },
+    { "path": "source_reports.wp_block_validity.status", "assert": "equals", "value": "pass" },
+    { "path": "coverage.0.fallback_count", "assert": "equals", "value": 0 }
+  ]
+}
diff --git a/php-transformer/tests/fixtures/parity/html-runtime-authored-search-input.json b/php-transformer/tests/fixtures/parity/html-runtime-authored-search-input.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..99c03313
--- /dev/null
+++ b/php-transformer/tests/fixtures/parity/html-runtime-authored-search-input.json
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+{
+  "schema": "blocks-engine/php-transformer/parity-fixture/v1",
+  "name": "html-runtime-authored-search-input",
+  "description": "Keeps a styled, runtime-targeted search control editable while preserving its label shell and safe data selector.",
+  "source_reference": {
+    "repo": "php-transformer",
+    "path": "tests/fixtures/parity/html-runtime-authored-search-input.json",
+    "notes": "Generic coverage for script-addressed authored inputs without raw HTML preservation."
+  },
+  "legacy_comparison": {
+    "skip": true,
+    "reason": "Runtime-aware authored input lowering is an upstream primitive with no legacy comparison."
+  },
+  "operation": "html_transformer.transform",
+  "input": {
+    "content": "<main><label class=\"search\">Search docs <input type=\"search\" placeholder=\"Search components\" data-search></label></main>",
+    "options": {
+      "static_css": ".search{display:grid;gap:8px}.search input{border:1px solid #ccc}",
+      "runtime_dom_selectors": ["[data-search]"]
+    }
+  },
+  "expected_blocks": [
+    { "path": "blocks.0", "name": "blocks-engine/authored-input" }
+  ],
+  "expected_fallbacks": [],
+  "expect": [
+    { "path": "status", "assert": "equals", "value": "success" },
+    { "path": "fallbacks", "assert": "count", "count": 0 },
+    { "path": "source_reports.html.runtime_islands", "assert": "count", "count": 1 },
+    { "path": "source_reports.html.runtime_islands.0.selector", "assert": "equals", "value": "main:nth-of-type(1) > label:nth-of-type(1) > input:nth-of-type(1)" },
+    { "path": "serialized_blocks", "assert": "contains", "value": "blocks-engine/authored-input" },
+    { "path": "serialized_blocks", "assert": "contains", "value": "<label class=\"search\">Search docs<input type=\"search\" placeholder=\"Search components\" data-search=\"\"></label>" },
+    { "path": "serialized_blocks", "assert": "not_contains", "value": "<!-- wp:html" },
+    { "path": "coverage.0.fallback_count", "assert": "equals", "value": 0 }
+  ]
+}
diff --git a/php-transformer/tests/fixtures/parity/html-sectioned-list-navigation.json b/php-transformer/tests/fixtures/parity/html-sectioned-list-navigation.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..da04a41d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/php-transformer/tests/fixtures/parity/html-sectioned-list-navigation.json
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+{
+  "schema": "blocks-engine/php-transformer/parity-fixture/v1",
+  "name": "html-sectioned-list-navigation",
+  "description": "Preserves repeated heading and list navigation sections as native document lists instead of flattening them into one menu.",
+  "source_reference": {
+    "repo": "php-transformer",
+    "path": "tests/fixtures/parity/html-sectioned-list-navigation.json",
+    "notes": "Generic coverage for documentation sidebars and other sectioned list navigation."
+  },
+  "legacy_comparison": {
+    "skip": true,
+    "reason": "Sectioned native list navigation is an upstream primitive with no legacy comparison."
+  },
+  "operation": "html_transformer.transform",
+  "input": {
+    "content": "<aside class=\"sidebar\"><nav aria-label=\"Documentation\"><h2>Start</h2><ul><li><a href=\"#install\">Install</a></li><li><a href=\"#configure\">Configure</a></li></ul><h2>Guides</h2><ul><li><a href=\"#tabs\">Client SDKs</a></li><li><a href=\"#webhooks\">Webhooks</a></li><li><a href=\"#limits\">Limits</a></li></ul></nav></aside>",
+    "options": {
+      "static_css": ".sidebar ul{padding-left:1rem}"
+    }
+  },
+  "expected_blocks": [
+    { "path": "blocks.0", "name": "core/group" },
+    { "path": "blocks.0.innerBlocks.0", "name": "core/group" },
+    { "path": "blocks.0.innerBlocks.0.innerBlocks.0", "name": "core/heading" },
+    { "path": "blocks.0.innerBlocks.0.innerBlocks.1", "name": "core/list" },
+    { "path": "blocks.0.innerBlocks.0.innerBlocks.2", "name": "core/heading" },
+    { "path": "blocks.0.innerBlocks.0.innerBlocks.3", "name": "core/list" }
+  ],
+  "expected_fallbacks": [],
+  "expect": [
+    { "path": "status", "assert": "equals", "value": "success" },
+    { "path": "fallbacks", "assert": "count", "count": 0 },
+    { "path": "source_reports.semantic_parity.status", "assert": "equals", "value": "pass" },
+    { "path": "serialized_blocks", "assert": "contains", "value": ">Start</h2>" },
+    { "path": "serialized_blocks", "assert": "contains", "value": ">Guides</h2>" },
+    { "path": "serialized_blocks", "assert": "contains", "value": "<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">" },
+    { "path": "serialized_blocks", "assert": "not_contains", "value": "<!-- wp:navigation" },
+    { "path": "serialized_blocks", "assert": "not_contains", "value": "<!-- wp:html" },
+    { "path": "coverage.0.fallback_count", "assert": "equals", "value": 0 }
+  ]
+}
diff --git a/php-transformer/tests/unit/artifact-author-stylesheet-projection.php b/php-transformer/tests/unit/artifact-author-stylesheet-projection.php
index b9482ba4..7b6b3cf3 100644
--- a/php-transformer/tests/unit/artifact-author-stylesheet-projection.php
+++ b/php-transformer/tests/unit/artifact-author-stylesheet-projection.php
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@
 $inlineLayoutBlocks = $inlineLayoutLeaves['blocks'] ?? array();
 $assert(2 === count($inlineLayoutBlocks) && 'core/group' === ($inlineLayoutBlocks[0]['blockName'] ?? '') && 4 === count($inlineLayoutBlocks[0]['innerBlocks'] ?? array()) && ! array_filter($inlineLayoutBlocks[0]['innerBlocks'] ?? array(), static fn (array $block): bool => 'core/paragraph' !== ($block['blockName'] ?? '')), 'external card layout retains standalone semantic leaves in core Group and Paragraph blocks');
 $assert(str_contains($inlineLayoutMarkup, 'artifact-card blocks-engine-css-owned-layout blocks-engine-css-owned-grid') && str_contains($inlineLayoutMarkup, '<p class="blocks-engine-inline-layout-carrier"><strong>index.html</strong></p>') && 3 === substr_count($inlineLayoutMarkup, '<span class="card-label">') && ! str_contains($inlineLayoutMarkup, 'blocks-engine/author-layout') && ! str_contains($inlineLayoutMarkup, 'wp:html'), 'card saves CSS-owned parent and real source leaves through neutral core paragraph carriers without custom or HTML blocks');
-$assert(str_contains($inlineLayoutCss, '.artifact-card > p.blocks-engine-inline-layout-carrier > strong{display:block}') && preg_match('/\.artifact-card > p\.blocks-engine-inline-layout-carrier > strong:not\(\.blocks-engine-specificity-class-[^)]+\)\{margin:12px 0 4\.8px\}/', $inlineLayoutCss) === 1 && str_contains($inlineLayoutCss, '.artifact-card p.blocks-engine-inline-layout-carrier > .card-label{display:block;grid-column:1 / -1;color:#6040cc}') && preg_match('/\.artifact-card p\.blocks-engine-inline-layout-carrier > \.card-label:not\(\.blocks-engine-specificity-class-[^)]+\)\{margin:2px 0\}/', $inlineLayoutCss) === 1 && str_contains($inlineLayoutCss, ':where(p.blocks-engine-inline-layout-carrier){display:contents;margin:0!important;padding:0!important;border:0!important}') && str_contains($inlineLayoutCss, ':root :where(.blocks-engine-css-owned-layout)>.block-editor-inner-blocks>.block-editor-block-list__layout{display:contents}') && str_contains($inlineLayoutCss, ':root :where(.blocks-engine-css-owned-grid)>*{margin-block-start:0;margin-block-end:0}'), 'carrier projection preserves direct grid items through Gutenberg editor wrappers, reset-resistant descendant margins, and authored order');
+$assert(str_contains($inlineLayoutCss, '.artifact-card > p.blocks-engine-inline-layout-carrier > strong{display:block}') && preg_match('/\.artifact-card > p\.blocks-engine-inline-layout-carrier > strong:not\(\.blocks-engine-specificity-class-[^)]+\)\{margin:12px 0 4\.8px\}/', $inlineLayoutCss) === 1 && str_contains($inlineLayoutCss, '.artifact-card p.blocks-engine-inline-layout-carrier > .card-label{display:block;grid-column:1 / -1;color:#6040cc}') && preg_match('/\.artifact-card p\.blocks-engine-inline-layout-carrier > \.card-label:not\(\.blocks-engine-specificity-class-[^)]+\)\{margin:2px 0\}/', $inlineLayoutCss) === 1 && str_contains($inlineLayoutCss, ':where(p.blocks-engine-inline-layout-carrier){display:contents;margin:0!important;padding:0!important;border:0!important}') && str_contains($inlineLayoutCss, ':root :where(.blocks-engine-css-owned-layout)>.block-editor-inner-blocks>.block-editor-block-list__layout{display:contents}') && str_contains($inlineLayoutCss, ':root :where(.blocks-engine-css-owned-grid)>:where(:not(h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)){margin-block-start:0;margin-block-end:0}'), 'carrier projection preserves direct grid items through Gutenberg editor wrappers, reset-resistant descendant margins, and authored order');
 $inlineLayoutValidity = ( new HtmlTransformer() )->transform('<style>.artifact-card{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr auto}.artifact-card > strong{display:block;margin:12px 0 4.8px}.artifact-card .card-label{display:block;grid-column:1 / -1;color:#6040cc;margin:2px 0}</style><div class="artifact-card"><span class="card-label">Input</span><strong>index.html</strong><span class="card-label">styles.css</span><span class="card-label">assets/</span></div><p>Ordinary <strong>prose</strong> and <span>inline text</span>.</p>')->toArray();
 $assert(5 === substr_count($inlineLayoutMarkup, '<!-- wp:paragraph') && str_contains($inlineLayoutMarkup, '<p>Ordinary <strong>prose</strong> and <span>inline text</span>.</p>') && 'pass' === ($inlineLayoutValidity['source_reports']['wp_block_validity']['status'] ?? ''), 'ordinary prose inline semantics remain one valid RichText paragraph');
 
@@ -378,7 +378,7 @@
     && 'core/paragraph' === ($externalLayoutCardChildren[1]['blockName'] ?? '')
     && str_contains((string) ($externalLayoutCardChildren[1]['attrs']['className'] ?? ''), 'blocks-engine-inline-layout-carrier')
     && ! str_contains($externalLayoutPage, 'blocks-engine-css-owned-layout-item')
-    && str_contains($externalLayoutCss, ':root :where(.blocks-engine-css-owned-grid)>*{margin-block-start:0;margin-block-end:0}')
+    && str_contains($externalLayoutCss, ':root :where(.blocks-engine-css-owned-grid)>:where(:not(h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)){margin-block-start:0;margin-block-end:0}')
     && ! str_contains($externalLayoutCss, '.artifact-card > span:not(.card-label)')
     && ! str_contains($externalLayoutCss, '.artifact-card > strong'),
     'linked implicit and explicit grids retain valid paragraph layout-item carriers with grid-owned flow in canonical site-plan markup'
diff --git a/php-transformer/tests/unit/authored-form-control-block-converter.php b/php-transformer/tests/unit/authored-form-control-block-converter.php
index 409d0f67..64ff436a 100644
--- a/php-transformer/tests/unit/authored-form-control-block-converter.php
+++ b/php-transformer/tests/unit/authored-form-control-block-converter.php
@@ -62,6 +62,12 @@ static function (string $text) use (&$echoes): void {
 $assert('<input type="range" id="volume" value="4" min="1" max="9" step="2" required>' === ($inputBlock['innerHTML'] ?? ''), 'styled-input-emits-native-markup');
 $assert(isset($registered[AuthoredInputBlockGenerator::class]), 'styled-input-registers-generated-definition');
 
+$runtimeInput = $elementFrom('<label class="search">Search docs<input data-styled data-search data-wp-on--click="actions.search" type="search"></label>', 'input');
+$runtimeLabel = $runtimeInput->parentNode;
+$runtimeInputBlock = $converter->input($runtimeInput, $runtimeLabel instanceof DOMElement ? $runtimeLabel : null, true);
+$assert(array( 'data-search' => '', 'data-styled' => '' ) === ($runtimeInputBlock['attrs']['dataAttributes'] ?? array()), 'runtime-input-retains-safe-data-attributes-only');
+$assert('<label class="search">Search docs<input type="search" data-search="" data-styled=""></label>' === ($runtimeInputBlock['innerHTML'] ?? ''), 'runtime-input-retains-native-label-shell');
+
 $echoes = array();
 $plainSelect = $elementFrom('<select aria-label="Plan"><option value="basic">Basic</option><option selected>Pro &amp; Plus</option></select>', 'select');
 $selectFallback = $converter->select($plainSelect);
diff --git a/php-transformer/tests/unit/engine-support-css-asset.php b/php-transformer/tests/unit/engine-support-css-asset.php
index 3c881894..984e7d5b 100644
--- a/php-transformer/tests/unit/engine-support-css-asset.php
+++ b/php-transformer/tests/unit/engine-support-css-asset.php
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@
     'css-owned editor wrappers' => ':root :where(.blocks-engine-css-owned-layout)>.block-editor-inner-blocks,:root :where(.blocks-engine-css-owned-layout)>.block-editor-inner-blocks>.block-editor-block-list__layout{display:contents}',
     'css-owned-flow paragraph' => ':root :where(.blocks-engine-css-owned-flow>p){margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0}',
     'css-owned-flow direct children' => ':root :where(.wp-block-group.blocks-engine-css-owned-flow)>*{margin-block-start:0;margin-block-end:0}',
-    'css-owned-grid' => ':root :where(.blocks-engine-css-owned-grid)>*{margin-block-start:0;margin-block-end:0}',
+    'css-owned-grid' => ':root :where(.blocks-engine-css-owned-grid)>:where(:not(h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)){margin-block-start:0;margin-block-end:0}',
     'positioned-fragment-link-carrier' => ':where(.blocks-engine-positioned-fragment-link-carrier){display:contents!important}',
     'empty-flex-item' => ':where(.blocks-engine-empty-flex-item){flex:0 0 0!important;width:0!important;min-width:0!important;margin-left:0!important;margin-right:0!important}',
     'list-navigation alignment' => '.wp-block-navigation.blocks-engine-list-navigation{align-items:normal}',
diff --git a/php-transformer/tests/unit/engine-support-css-specificity.php b/php-transformer/tests/unit/engine-support-css-specificity.php
index 10d9f92b..20308a2d 100644
--- a/php-transformer/tests/unit/engine-support-css-specificity.php
+++ b/php-transformer/tests/unit/engine-support-css-specificity.php
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@
     'synthetic paragraph' => ':root :where(.blocks-engine-synthetic-paragraph){margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0}',
     'css-owned flow paragraph' => ':root :where(.blocks-engine-css-owned-flow>p){margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0}',
     'css-owned flow direct children' => ':root :where(.wp-block-group.blocks-engine-css-owned-flow)>*{margin-block-start:0;margin-block-end:0}',
-    'css-owned grid direct children' => ':root :where(.blocks-engine-css-owned-grid)>*{margin-block-start:0;margin-block-end:0}',
+    'css-owned grid direct children' => ':root :where(.blocks-engine-css-owned-grid)>:where(:not(h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)){margin-block-start:0;margin-block-end:0}',
 );
 $editorWrapperRules = array(
     ':root :where(.blocks-engine-css-owned-layout)>.block-editor-inner-blocks' => array( 0, 2, 0 ),
diff --git a/php-transformer/tests/unit/readable-form-control-block-converter.php b/php-transformer/tests/unit/readable-form-control-block-converter.php
index 41201bc4..56c569aa 100644
--- a/php-transformer/tests/unit/readable-form-control-block-converter.php
+++ b/php-transformer/tests/unit/readable-form-control-block-converter.php
@@ -97,6 +97,13 @@ static function (string $text) use (&$echoes): void {
 $assert('core/html' === ($runtimeLabel['blockName'] ?? ''), 'runtime-wrapped-control-preserves-label-markup');
 $assert('runtime_dom_target' === ($recorded[0]['reason'] ?? ''), 'runtime-wrapped-control-records-island');
 
+$recorded = array();
+$styledRuntimeLabel = $converter->convert($elementFrom('<label class="search">Search docs<input data-styled data-runtime data-search type="search"></label>', 'label'));
+$assert(AuthoredInputBlockGenerator::NAME === ($styledRuntimeLabel['blockName'] ?? ''), 'styled-runtime-wrapped-control-uses-authored-input');
+$assert('Search docs' === ($styledRuntimeLabel['attrs']['label'] ?? ''), 'styled-runtime-wrapped-control-retains-label');
+$assert(array( 'data-runtime' => '', 'data-search' => '', 'data-styled' => '' ) === ($styledRuntimeLabel['attrs']['dataAttributes'] ?? array()), 'styled-runtime-wrapped-control-retains-data-selectors');
+$assert('runtime_dom_target' === ($recorded[0]['reason'] ?? ''), 'styled-runtime-wrapped-control-records-island');
+
 $recorded = array();
 $search = $converter->convert($elementFrom('<input type="search" aria-label="Find">', 'input'));
 $assert('core/html' === ($search['blockName'] ?? ''), 'search-input-is-preserved');