diff --git a/packages/compiler/src/render3/r3_identifiers.ts b/packages/compiler/src/render3/r3_identifiers.ts
index e5fb36727e..f665b557dd 100644
--- a/packages/compiler/src/render3/r3_identifiers.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler/src/render3/r3_identifiers.ts
@@ -23,7 +23,9 @@ export class Identifiers {
 
   static namespaceSVG: o.ExternalReference = {name: 'ɵNS', moduleName: CORE};
 
-  static createElement: o.ExternalReference = {name: 'ɵE', moduleName: CORE};
+  static element: o.ExternalReference = {name: 'ɵEe', moduleName: CORE};
+
+  static elementStart: o.ExternalReference = {name: 'ɵE', moduleName: CORE};
 
   static elementEnd: o.ExternalReference = {name: 'ɵe', moduleName: CORE};
 
diff --git a/packages/compiler/src/render3/view/template.ts b/packages/compiler/src/render3/view/template.ts
index eca3a45a39..57ab502aa6 100644
--- a/packages/compiler/src/render3/view/template.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler/src/render3/view/template.ts
@@ -357,32 +357,44 @@ export class TemplateDefinitionBuilder implements t.Visitor<void>, LocalResolver
       this.addNamespaceInstruction(currentNamespace, element);
     }
 
-    this.instruction(
-        this._creationCode, element.sourceSpan, R3.createElement, ...trimTrailingNulls(parameters));
+    const isEmptyElement = element.children.length === 0 && element.outputs.length === 0;
 
     const implicit = o.variable(CONTEXT_NAME);
 
-    // Generate Listeners (outputs)
-    element.outputs.forEach((outputAst: t.BoundEvent) => {
-      const elName = sanitizeIdentifier(element.name);
-      const evName = sanitizeIdentifier(outputAst.name);
-      const functionName = `${this.templateName}_${elName}_${evName}_listener`;
-      const localVars: o.Statement[] = [];
-      const bindingScope =
-          this._bindingScope.nestedScope((lhsVar: o.ReadVarExpr, rhsExpression: o.Expression) => {
-            localVars.push(
-                lhsVar.set(rhsExpression).toDeclStmt(o.INFERRED_TYPE, [o.StmtModifier.Final]));
-          });
-      const bindingExpr = convertActionBinding(
-          bindingScope, implicit, outputAst.handler, 'b', () => error('Unexpected interpolation'));
-      const handler = o.fn(
-          [new o.FnParam('$event', o.DYNAMIC_TYPE)], [...localVars, ...bindingExpr.render3Stmts],
-          o.INFERRED_TYPE, null, functionName);
+    if (isEmptyElement) {
       this.instruction(
-          this._creationCode, outputAst.sourceSpan, R3.listener, o.literal(outputAst.name),
-          handler);
-    });
+          this._creationCode, element.sourceSpan, R3.element, ...trimTrailingNulls(parameters));
+    } else {
+      // Generate the instruction create element instruction
+      if (i18nMessages.length > 0) {
+        this._creationCode.push(...i18nMessages);
+      }
+      this.instruction(
+          this._creationCode, element.sourceSpan, R3.elementStart,
+          ...trimTrailingNulls(parameters));
 
+      // Generate Listeners (outputs)
+      element.outputs.forEach((outputAst: t.BoundEvent) => {
+        const elName = sanitizeIdentifier(element.name);
+        const evName = sanitizeIdentifier(outputAst.name);
+        const functionName = `${this.templateName}_${elName}_${evName}_listener`;
+        const localVars: o.Statement[] = [];
+        const bindingScope =
+            this._bindingScope.nestedScope((lhsVar: o.ReadVarExpr, rhsExpression: o.Expression) => {
+              localVars.push(
+                  lhsVar.set(rhsExpression).toDeclStmt(o.INFERRED_TYPE, [o.StmtModifier.Final]));
+            });
+        const bindingExpr = convertActionBinding(
+            bindingScope, implicit, outputAst.handler, 'b',
+            () => error('Unexpected interpolation'));
+        const handler = o.fn(
+            [new o.FnParam('$event', o.DYNAMIC_TYPE)], [...localVars, ...bindingExpr.render3Stmts],
+            o.INFERRED_TYPE, null, functionName);
+        this.instruction(
+            this._creationCode, outputAst.sourceSpan, R3.listener, o.literal(outputAst.name),
+            handler);
+      });
+    }
 
     // Generate element input bindings
     element.inputs.forEach((input: t.BoundAttribute) => {
@@ -422,9 +434,11 @@ export class TemplateDefinitionBuilder implements t.Visitor<void>, LocalResolver
       t.visitAll(this, element.children);
     }
 
-    // Finish element construction mode.
-    this.instruction(
-        this._creationCode, element.endSourceSpan || element.sourceSpan, R3.elementEnd);
+    if (!isEmptyElement) {
+      // Finish element construction mode.
+      this.instruction(
+          this._creationCode, element.endSourceSpan || element.sourceSpan, R3.elementEnd);
+    }
 
     // Restore the state before exiting this node
     this._inI18nSection = wasInI18nSection;
diff --git a/packages/compiler/test/render3/r3_compiler_compliance_spec.ts b/packages/compiler/test/render3/r3_compiler_compliance_spec.ts
index f0371076b3..a61016f656 100644
--- a/packages/compiler/test/render3/r3_compiler_compliance_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler/test/render3/r3_compiler_compliance_spec.ts
@@ -52,8 +52,7 @@ describe('compiler compliance', () => {
             $r3$.ɵE(0, 'div', $c1$);
             $r3$.ɵNS();
             $r3$.ɵE(1, 'svg');
-            $r3$.ɵE(2, 'circle', $c2$);
-            $r3$.ɵe();
+            $r3$.ɵEe(2, 'circle', $c2$);
             $r3$.ɵe();
             $r3$.ɵNH();
             $r3$.ɵE(3, 'p');
@@ -101,8 +100,7 @@ describe('compiler compliance', () => {
             $r3$.ɵE(0, 'div', $c1$);
             $r3$.ɵNM();
             $r3$.ɵE(1, 'math');
-            $r3$.ɵE(2, 'infinity');
-            $r3$.ɵe();
+            $r3$.ɵEe(2, 'infinity');
             $r3$.ɵe();
             $r3$.ɵNH();
             $r3$.ɵE(3, 'p');
@@ -189,8 +187,7 @@ describe('compiler compliance', () => {
       const template = `
         template: function MyComponent_Template(rf: IDENT, ctx: IDENT) {
           if (rf & 1) {
-            $r3$.ɵE(0, 'div');
-            $r3$.ɵe();
+            $r3$.ɵEe(0, 'div');
           }
           if (rf & 2) {
             $r3$.ɵp(0, 'id', $r3$.ɵb(ctx.id));
@@ -234,9 +231,8 @@ describe('compiler compliance', () => {
       const template = `
         template: function MyComponent_Template(rf: IDENT, ctx: IDENT) {
           if (rf & 1) {
-            $r3$.ɵE(0, 'div');
+            $r3$.ɵEe(0, 'div');
             $r3$.ɵPp(1,'pipe');
-            $r3$.ɵe();
             $r3$.ɵrS(10);
           }
           if (rf & 2) {
@@ -280,8 +276,7 @@ describe('compiler compliance', () => {
       const template = `
         template: function MyComponent_Template(rf: IDENT, ctx: IDENT) {
           if (rf & 1) {
-            $r3$.ɵE(0, 'div');
-            $r3$.ɵe();
+            $r3$.ɵEe(0, 'div');
           }
           if (rf & 2) {
             $r3$.ɵkn(0, 'error', $r3$.ɵb(ctx.error));
@@ -353,8 +348,7 @@ describe('compiler compliance', () => {
           factory: function MyComponent_Factory() { return new MyComponent(); },
           template: function MyComponent_Template(rf: IDENT, ctx: IDENT) {
             if (rf & 1) {
-              $r3$.ɵE(0, 'child', $c1$);
-              $r3$.ɵe();
+              $r3$.ɵEe(0, 'child', $c1$);
               $r3$.ɵT(1, '!');
             }
           },
@@ -560,8 +554,7 @@ describe('compiler compliance', () => {
             factory: function MyApp_Factory() { return new MyApp(); },
             template: function MyApp_Template(rf: $RenderFlags$, ctx: $MyApp$) {
               if (rf & 1) {
-                $r3$.ɵE(0, 'my-comp');
-                $r3$.ɵe();
+                $r3$.ɵEe(0, 'my-comp');
                 $r3$.ɵrS(2);
               }
               if (rf & 2) {
@@ -640,8 +633,7 @@ describe('compiler compliance', () => {
             factory: function MyApp_Factory() { return new MyApp(); },
             template: function MyApp_Template(rf: $RenderFlags$, ctx: $MyApp$) {
               if (rf & 1) {
-                $r3$.ɵE(0, 'my-comp');
-                $r3$.ɵe();
+                $r3$.ɵEe(0, 'my-comp');
                 $r3$.ɵrS(10);
               }
               if (rf & 2) {
@@ -702,8 +694,7 @@ describe('compiler compliance', () => {
             factory: function MyApp_Factory() { return new MyApp(); },
             template: function MyApp_Template(rf: $RenderFlags$, ctx: $MyApp$) {
               if (rf & 1) {
-                $r3$.ɵE(0, 'object-comp');
-                $r3$.ɵe();
+                $r3$.ɵEe(0, 'object-comp');
                 $r3$.ɵrS(2);
               }
               if (rf & 2) {
@@ -768,8 +759,7 @@ describe('compiler compliance', () => {
             factory: function MyApp_Factory() { return new MyApp(); },
             template: function MyApp_Template(rf: $RenderFlags$, ctx: $MyApp$) {
               if (rf & 1) {
-                $r3$.ɵE(0, 'nested-comp');
-                $r3$.ɵe();
+                $r3$.ɵEe(0, 'nested-comp');
                 $r3$.ɵrS(7);
               }
               if (rf & 2) {
@@ -913,8 +903,7 @@ describe('compiler compliance', () => {
               var $tmp$: $any$;
               if (rf & 1) {
                 $r3$.ɵQ(0, SomeDirective, true);
-                $r3$.ɵE(1, 'div', $e0_attrs$);
-                $r3$.ɵe();
+                $r3$.ɵEe(1, 'div', $e0_attrs$);
               }
               if (rf & 2) {
                 ($r3$.ɵqR(($tmp$ = $r3$.ɵld(0))) && (ctx.someDir = $tmp$.first));
@@ -1108,8 +1097,7 @@ describe('compiler compliance', () => {
           factory: function MyComponent_Factory() { return new MyComponent(); },
           template: function MyComponent_Template(rf: IDENT, ctx: IDENT) {
             if (rf & 1) {
-              $r3$.ɵE(0, 'input', null, $c1$);
-              $r3$.ɵe();
+              $r3$.ɵEe(0, 'input', null, $c1$);
               $r3$.ɵT(2);
             }
             const $user$ = $r3$.ɵld(1);
@@ -1188,10 +1176,8 @@ describe('compiler compliance', () => {
             factory: function SimpleLayout_Factory() { return new SimpleLayout(); },
             template: function SimpleLayout_Template(rf: IDENT, ctx: IDENT) {
               if (rf & 1) {
-                $r3$.ɵE(0, 'lifecycle-comp');
-                $r3$.ɵe();
-                $r3$.ɵE(1, 'lifecycle-comp');
-                $r3$.ɵe();
+                $r3$.ɵEe(0, 'lifecycle-comp');
+                $r3$.ɵEe(1, 'lifecycle-comp');
               }
               if (rf & 2) {
                 $r3$.ɵp(0, 'name', $r3$.ɵb(ctx.name1));
@@ -1319,8 +1305,7 @@ describe('compiler compliance', () => {
                     if (rf & 1) {
                       $r3$.ɵNS();
                       $r3$.ɵE(0,'g');
-                      $r3$.ɵE(1,'circle');
-                      $r3$.ɵe();
+                      $r3$.ɵEe(1,'circle');
                       $r3$.ɵe();
                     }
                   }
diff --git a/packages/compiler/test/render3/r3_view_compiler_binding_spec.ts b/packages/compiler/test/render3/r3_view_compiler_binding_spec.ts
index 8b0a9edcbe..a9f4f3672e 100644
--- a/packages/compiler/test/render3/r3_view_compiler_binding_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler/test/render3/r3_view_compiler_binding_spec.ts
@@ -75,8 +75,7 @@ describe('compiler compliance: bindings', () => {
       const template = `
       template:function MyComponent_Template(rf: IDENT, $ctx$: IDENT){
         if (rf & 1) {
-          $i0$.ɵE(0, 'a');
-          $i0$.ɵe();
+          $i0$.ɵEe(0, 'a');
         }
         if (rf & 2) {
           $i0$.ɵp(0, 'title', $i0$.ɵb($ctx$.title));
@@ -108,8 +107,7 @@ describe('compiler compliance: bindings', () => {
       const template = `
       template:function MyComponent_Template(rf: IDENT, $ctx$: IDENT){
         if (rf & 1) {
-          $i0$.ɵE(0, 'a');
-          $i0$.ɵe();
+          $i0$.ɵEe(0, 'a');
         }
         if (rf & 2) {
           $i0$.ɵp(0, 'title', $i0$.ɵi1('Hello ', $ctx$.name, ''));
diff --git a/packages/compiler/test/render3/r3_view_compiler_i18n_spec.ts b/packages/compiler/test/render3/r3_view_compiler_i18n_spec.ts
index 3839df2615..1065b3acb9 100644
--- a/packages/compiler/test/render3/r3_view_compiler_i18n_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler/test/render3/r3_view_compiler_i18n_spec.ts
@@ -148,8 +148,7 @@ describe('i18n support in the view compiler', () => {
       …
       template: function MyComponent_Template(rf: IDENT, ctx: IDENT) {
         if (rf & 1) {
-          $r3$.ɵE(0, 'div', $c1$);
-          $r3$.ɵe();
+          $r3$.ɵEe(0, 'div', $c1$);
         }
       }
     `;
diff --git a/packages/compiler/test/render3/r3_view_compiler_styling_spec.ts b/packages/compiler/test/render3/r3_view_compiler_styling_spec.ts
index df527a99d5..05249bcd1e 100644
--- a/packages/compiler/test/render3/r3_view_compiler_styling_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler/test/render3/r3_view_compiler_styling_spec.ts
@@ -40,8 +40,7 @@ describe('compiler compliance: styling', () => {
       const template = `
           template: function MyComponent_Template(rf: $RenderFlags$, $ctx$: $MyComponent$) {
             if (rf & 1) {
-              $r3$.ɵE(0, 'div');
-              $r3$.ɵe();
+              $r3$.ɵEe(0, 'div');
             }
             if (rf & 2) {
               $r3$.ɵs(0,$r3$.ɵb($ctx$.myStyleExp));
@@ -78,8 +77,7 @@ describe('compiler compliance: styling', () => {
       const template = `
           template: function MyComponent_Template(rf: $RenderFlags$, $ctx$: $MyComponent$) {
             if (rf & 1) {
-              $r3$.ɵE(0, 'div');
-              $r3$.ɵe();
+              $r3$.ɵEe(0, 'div');
             }
             if (rf & 2) {
               $r3$.ɵk(0,$r3$.ɵb($ctx$.myClassExp));
diff --git a/packages/core/src/core_render3_private_export.ts b/packages/core/src/core_render3_private_export.ts
index 60df2a44cd..c944bace23 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/core_render3_private_export.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/core_render3_private_export.ts
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ export {
   NH as ɵNH,
   NM as ɵNM,
   NS as ɵNS,
+  Ee as ɵEe,
   L as ɵL,
   T as ɵT,
   V as ɵV,
diff --git a/packages/core/src/render3/index.ts b/packages/core/src/render3/index.ts
index e57520dc1c..df2efee76c 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/render3/index.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/render3/index.ts
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ export {
   containerRefreshStart as cR,
   containerRefreshEnd as cr,
 
+  element as Ee,
   elementAttribute as a,
   elementClass as k,
   elementClassNamed as kn,
diff --git a/packages/core/src/render3/instructions.ts b/packages/core/src/render3/instructions.ts
index 24d25effdf..133decaf37 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/render3/instructions.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/render3/instructions.ts
@@ -573,6 +573,20 @@ export function namespaceHTML() {
 //// Element
 //////////////////////////
 
+/**
+ * Creates an empty element using {@link elementStart} and {@link elementEnd}
+ *
+ * @param index Index of the element in the data array
+ * @param name Name of the DOM Node
+ * @param attrs Statically bound set of attributes to be written into the DOM element on creation.
+ * @param localRefs A set of local reference bindings on the element.
+ */
+export function element(
+    index: number, name: string, attrs?: TAttributes | null, localRefs?: string[] | null): void {
+  elementStart(index, name, attrs, localRefs);
+  elementEnd();
+}
+
 /**
  * Create DOM element. The instruction must later be followed by `elementEnd()` call.
  *
diff --git a/packages/core/src/render3/jit/environment.ts b/packages/core/src/render3/jit/environment.ts
index 0496c64a8b..3db548c1da 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/render3/jit/environment.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/render3/jit/environment.ts
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ export const angularCoreEnv: {[name: string]: Function} = {
   'ɵNS': r3.NS,
   'ɵE': r3.E,
   'ɵe': r3.e,
+  'ɵEe': r3.Ee,
   'ɵf0': r3.f0,
   'ɵf1': r3.f1,
   'ɵf2': r3.f2,
diff --git a/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/component_directives_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/component_directives_spec.ts
index 7c1e6a7845..d15391a594 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/component_directives_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/component_directives_spec.ts
@@ -69,8 +69,7 @@ describe('components & directives', () => {
         factory: () => new MyComponent(),
         template: function(rf: $RenderFlags$, ctx: $MyComponent$) {
           if (rf & 1) {
-            $r3$.ɵE(0, 'child', $e0_attrs$);
-            $r3$.ɵe();
+            $r3$.ɵEe(0, 'child', $e0_attrs$);
             $r3$.ɵT(1, '!');
           }
         }
@@ -121,8 +120,7 @@ describe('components & directives', () => {
         factory: function MyApp_Factory() { return new MyApp(); },
         template: function MyApp_Template(rf: $RenderFlags$, ctx: $MyApp$) {
           if (rf & 1) {
-            $r3$.ɵE(0, 'div', $e0_attrs$);
-            $r3$.ɵe();
+            $r3$.ɵEe(0, 'div', $e0_attrs$);
           }
         }
       });
@@ -217,8 +215,7 @@ describe('components & directives', () => {
         factory: function MyApp_Factory() { return new MyApp(); },
         template: function MyApp_Template(rf: $RenderFlags$, ctx: $MyApp$) {
           if (rf & 1) {
-            $r3$.ɵE(0, 'div', $e0_attrs$);
-            $r3$.ɵe();
+            $r3$.ɵEe(0, 'div', $e0_attrs$);
           }
         }
       });
@@ -265,8 +262,7 @@ describe('components & directives', () => {
         factory: function MyApp_Factory() { return new MyApp(); },
         template: function MyApp_Template(rf: $RenderFlags$, ctx: $MyApp$) {
           if (rf & 1) {
-            $r3$.ɵE(0, 'div', $e0_attrs$);
-            $r3$.ɵe();
+            $r3$.ɵEe(0, 'div', $e0_attrs$);
           }
         }
       });
@@ -325,8 +321,7 @@ describe('components & directives', () => {
         factory: function MyApp_Factory() { return new MyApp(); },
         template: function MyApp_Template(rf: $RenderFlags$, ctx: $MyApp$) {
           if (rf & 1) {
-            $r3$.ɵE(0, 'my-comp');
-            $r3$.ɵe();
+            $r3$.ɵEe(0, 'my-comp');
           }
           if (rf & 2) {
             $r3$.ɵp(0, 'name', $r3$.ɵb(ctx.name));
@@ -455,8 +450,7 @@ describe('components & directives', () => {
           factory: function MyApp_Factory() { return new MyApp(); },
           template: function MyApp_Template(rf: $RenderFlags$, ctx: $MyApp$) {
             if (rf & 1) {
-              $r3$.ɵE(0, 'my-array-comp');
-              $r3$.ɵe();
+              $r3$.ɵEe(0, 'my-array-comp');
             }
             if (rf & 2) {
               $r3$.ɵp(0, 'names', rf & 1 ? $e0_arr$ : $r3$.ɵNC);
@@ -500,8 +494,7 @@ describe('components & directives', () => {
           factory: function MyApp_Factory() { return new MyApp(); },
           template: function MyApp_Template(rf: $RenderFlags$, ctx: $MyApp$) {
             if (rf & 1) {
-              $r3$.ɵE(0, 'my-array-comp');
-              $r3$.ɵe();
+              $r3$.ɵEe(0, 'my-array-comp');
               $r3$.ɵrS(1);
             }
             if (rf & 2) {
@@ -562,8 +555,7 @@ describe('components & directives', () => {
           factory: function MyApp_Factory() { return new MyApp(); },
           template: function MyApp_Template(rf: $RenderFlags$, ctx: $MyApp$) {
             if (rf & 1) {
-              $r3$.ɵE(0, 'my-comp');
-              $r3$.ɵe();
+              $r3$.ɵEe(0, 'my-comp');
               $r3$.ɵrS(1);
             }
             if (rf & 2) {
@@ -606,8 +598,7 @@ describe('components & directives', () => {
           factory: function MyApp_Factory() { return new MyApp(); },
           template: function MyApp_Template(rf: $RenderFlags$, ctx: $MyApp$) {
             if (rf & 1) {
-              $r3$.ɵE(0, 'my-array-comp');
-              $r3$.ɵe();
+              $r3$.ɵEe(0, 'my-array-comp');
               $r3$.ɵrS(2);
             }
             if (rf & 2) {
@@ -717,8 +708,7 @@ describe('components & directives', () => {
           factory: function MyApp_Factory() { return new MyApp(); },
           template: function MyApp_Template(rf: $RenderFlags$, c: $any$) {
             if (rf & 1) {
-              $r3$.ɵE(0, 'my-comp');
-              $r3$.ɵe();
+              $r3$.ɵEe(0, 'my-comp');
               $r3$.ɵrS(10);
             }
             if (rf & 2) {
@@ -796,8 +786,7 @@ describe('components & directives', () => {
           factory: function MyApp_Factory() { return new MyApp(); },
           template: function MyApp_Template(rf: $RenderFlags$, ctx: $MyApp$) {
             if (rf & 1) {
-              $r3$.ɵE(0, 'object-comp');
-              $r3$.ɵe();
+              $r3$.ɵEe(0, 'object-comp');
               $r3$.ɵrS(2);
             }
             if (rf & 2) {
@@ -882,8 +871,7 @@ describe('components & directives', () => {
           factory: function MyApp_Factory() { return new MyApp(); },
           template: function MyApp_Template(rf: $RenderFlags$, ctx: $MyApp$) {
             if (rf & 1) {
-              $r3$.ɵE(0, 'nested-comp');
-              $r3$.ɵe();
+              $r3$.ɵEe(0, 'nested-comp');
               $r3$.ɵrS(7);
             }
             if (rf & 2) {
diff --git a/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/content_projection_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/content_projection_spec.ts
index 12171ea99a..c7a35758c0 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/content_projection_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/content_projection_spec.ts
@@ -28,9 +28,8 @@ describe('content projection', () => {
         template: function(rf: $RenderFlags$, ctx: $SimpleComponent$) {
           if (rf & 1) {
             $r3$.ɵpD(0);
-            $r3$.ɵE(1, 'div');
+            $r3$.ɵEe(1, 'div');
             $r3$.ɵP(2, 0);
-            $r3$.ɵe();
           }
         }
       });
@@ -58,12 +57,10 @@ describe('content projection', () => {
         template: function(rf: $RenderFlags$, ctx: $ComplexComponent$) {
           if (rf & 1) {
             $r3$.ɵpD(0, $pD_0P$, $pD_0R$);
-            $r3$.ɵE(1, 'div', ['id', 'first']);
+            $r3$.ɵEe(1, 'div', ['id', 'first']);
             $r3$.ɵP(2, 0, 1);
-            $r3$.ɵe();
-            $r3$.ɵE(3, 'div', ['id', 'second']);
+            $r3$.ɵEe(3, 'div', ['id', 'second']);
             $r3$.ɵP(4, 0, 2);
-            $r3$.ɵe();
           }
         }
       });
diff --git a/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/elements_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/elements_spec.ts
index 1155b8b229..0f1dd08873 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/elements_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/elements_spec.ts
@@ -91,8 +91,7 @@ describe('elements', () => {
           let $tmp$: any;
           let $tmp_2$: any;
           if (rf & 1) {
-            $r3$.ɵE(0, 'div', $e0_attrs$, $e0_locals$);
-            $r3$.ɵe();
+            $r3$.ɵEe(0, 'div', $e0_attrs$, $e0_locals$);
             $r3$.ɵT(3);
           }
           if (rf & 2) {
@@ -165,8 +164,7 @@ describe('elements', () => {
           factory: function MyComponent_Factory() { return new MyComponent(); },
           template: function MyComponent_Template(rf: $RenderFlags$, ctx: $MyComponent$) {
             if (rf & 1) {
-              $r3$.ɵE(0, 'div');
-              $r3$.ɵe();
+              $r3$.ɵEe(0, 'div');
             }
             if (rf & 2) {
               $r3$.ɵp(0, 'id', $r3$.ɵb(ctx.someProperty));
@@ -197,8 +195,7 @@ describe('elements', () => {
           factory: function MyComponent_Factory() { return new MyComponent(); },
           template: function MyComponent_Template(rf: $RenderFlags$, ctx: $MyComponent$) {
             if (rf & 1) {
-              $r3$.ɵE(0, 'div');
-              $r3$.ɵe();
+              $r3$.ɵEe(0, 'div');
             }
             if (rf & 2) {
               $r3$.ɵa(0, 'title', $r3$.ɵb(ctx.someAttribute));
@@ -229,8 +226,7 @@ describe('elements', () => {
           factory: function MyComponent_Factory() { return new MyComponent(); },
           template: function MyComponent_Template(rf: $RenderFlags$, ctx: $MyComponent$) {
             if (rf & 1) {
-              $r3$.ɵE(0, 'div');
-              $r3$.ɵe();
+              $r3$.ɵEe(0, 'div');
             }
             if (rf & 2) {
               $r3$.ɵkn(0, 'foo', $r3$.ɵb(ctx.someFlag));
@@ -265,8 +261,7 @@ describe('elements', () => {
           factory: function MyComponent_Factory() { return new MyComponent(); },
           template: function MyComponent_Template(rf: $RenderFlags$, ctx: $MyComponent$) {
             if (rf & 1) {
-              $r3$.ɵE(0, 'div');
-              $r3$.ɵe();
+              $r3$.ɵEe(0, 'div');
             }
             if (rf & 2) {
               $r3$.ɵsn(0, 'color', $r3$.ɵb(ctx.someColor));
@@ -315,8 +310,7 @@ describe('elements', () => {
           factory: function MyComponent_Factory() { return new MyComponent(); },
           template: function MyComponent_Template(rf: $RenderFlags$, ctx: $MyComponent$) {
             if (rf & 1) {
-              $r3$.ɵE(0, 'div', $e0_attrs$);
-              $r3$.ɵe();
+              $r3$.ɵEe(0, 'div', $e0_attrs$);
             }
             if (rf & 2) {
               $r3$.ɵp(0, 'id', $r3$.ɵb(ctx.someString + 1));
@@ -351,8 +345,7 @@ describe('elements', () => {
           factory: function StyleComponent_Factory() { return new StyleComponent(); },
           template: function StyleComponent_Template(rf: $RenderFlags$, ctx: $StyleComponent$) {
             if (rf & 1) {
-              $r3$.ɵE(0, 'div');
-              $r3$.ɵe();
+              $r3$.ɵEe(0, 'div');
             }
             if (rf & 2) {
               $r3$.ɵk(0, $r3$.ɵb(ctx.classExp));
diff --git a/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/injection_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/injection_spec.ts
index 827cd27a77..9dc873476a 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/injection_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/injection_spec.ts
@@ -54,8 +54,7 @@ describe('injection', () => {
           /** <my-comp></my-comp> */
           template: function MyApp_Template(rf: $RenderFlags$, ctx: $MyApp$) {
             if (rf & 1) {
-              $r3$.ɵE(0, 'my-comp');
-              $r3$.ɵe();
+              $r3$.ɵEe(0, 'my-comp');
             }
           },
           directives: () => [MyComp]
@@ -101,8 +100,7 @@ describe('injection', () => {
           /** <my-comp></my-comp> */
           template: function MyApp_Template(rf: $RenderFlags$, ctx: $MyApp$) {
             if (rf & 1) {
-              $r3$.ɵE(0, 'my-comp', e0_attrs);
-              $r3$.ɵe();
+              $r3$.ɵEe(0, 'my-comp', e0_attrs);
             }
           },
           directives: () => [MyComp]
diff --git a/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/life_cycle_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/life_cycle_spec.ts
index 0f4f5113a0..6577777e51 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/life_cycle_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/life_cycle_spec.ts
@@ -70,10 +70,8 @@ describe('lifecycle hooks', () => {
       factory: function SimpleLayout_Factory() { return simpleLayout = new SimpleLayout(); },
       template: function SimpleLayout_Template(rf: $RenderFlags$, ctx: $SimpleLayout$) {
         if (rf & 1) {
-          $r3$.ɵE(0, 'lifecycle-comp');
-          $r3$.ɵe();
-          $r3$.ɵE(1, 'lifecycle-comp');
-          $r3$.ɵe();
+          $r3$.ɵEe(0, 'lifecycle-comp');
+          $r3$.ɵEe(1, 'lifecycle-comp');
         }
         if (rf & 2) {
           $r3$.ɵp(0, 'name', $r3$.ɵb(ctx.name1));
diff --git a/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/local_reference_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/local_reference_spec.ts
index 99b6c6ecbf..a5c404814c 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/local_reference_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/local_reference_spec.ts
@@ -28,8 +28,7 @@ describe('local references', () => {
         template: function(rf: $RenderFlags$, ctx: $MyComponent$) {
           let l1_user: any;
           if (rf & 1) {
-            $r3$.ɵE(0, 'input', null, ['user', '']);
-            $r3$.ɵe();
+            $r3$.ɵEe(0, 'input', null, ['user', '']);
             $r3$.ɵT(2);
           }
           if (rf & 2) {
diff --git a/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/query_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/query_spec.ts
index d3e19413e3..10f6f1221e 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/query_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/query_spec.ts
@@ -58,8 +58,7 @@ describe('queries', () => {
           if (rf & 1) {
             $r3$.ɵQ(0, SomeDirective, false);
             $r3$.ɵQ(1, SomeDirective, false);
-            $r3$.ɵE(2, 'div', $e1_attrs$);
-            $r3$.ɵe();
+            $r3$.ɵEe(2, 'div', $e1_attrs$);
           }
           if (rf & 2) {
             $r3$.ɵqR($tmp$ = $r3$.ɵld<QueryList<any>>(0)) && (ctx.someDir = $tmp$.first);
@@ -147,8 +146,7 @@ describe('queries', () => {
           if (rf & 1) {
             $r3$.ɵE(0, 'content-query-component');
             contentQueryComp = $r3$.ɵd<any[]>(0)[0];
-            $r3$.ɵE(1, 'div', $e2_attrs$);
-            $r3$.ɵe();
+            $r3$.ɵEe(1, 'div', $e2_attrs$);
             $r3$.ɵe();
           }
         }
diff --git a/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/sanitize_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/sanitize_spec.ts
index 8137445076..bc73d1e105 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/sanitize_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/sanitize_spec.ts
@@ -43,10 +43,8 @@ describe('compiler sanitization', () => {
         factory: function MyComponent_Factory() { return new MyComponent(); },
         template: function MyComponent_Template(rf: $RenderFlags$, ctx: $MyComponent$) {
           if (rf & 1) {
-            $r3$.ɵE(0, 'div');
-            $r3$.ɵe();
-            $r3$.ɵE(1, 'img');
-            $r3$.ɵe();
+            $r3$.ɵEe(0, 'div');
+            $r3$.ɵEe(1, 'img');
           }
           if (rf & 2) {
             $r3$.ɵp(0, 'innerHTML', $r3$.ɵb(ctx.innerHTML), $r3$.ɵsanitizeHtml);
diff --git a/packages/core/test/render3/instructions_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/render3/instructions_spec.ts
index 7a59ec8834..d3302788eb 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/render3/instructions_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/render3/instructions_spec.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import {NgForOfContext} from '@angular/common';
 
 import {RenderFlags, directiveInject} from '../../src/render3';
 import {defineComponent} from '../../src/render3/definition';
-import {bind, container, elementAttribute, elementClass, elementEnd, elementProperty, elementStart, elementStyle, elementStyleNamed, interpolation1, renderTemplate, text, textBinding} from '../../src/render3/instructions';
+import {bind, container, element, elementAttribute, elementClass, elementEnd, elementProperty, elementStart, elementStyle, elementStyleNamed, interpolation1, renderTemplate, text, textBinding} from '../../src/render3/instructions';
 import {LElementNode, LNode} from '../../src/render3/interfaces/node';
 import {RElement, domRendererFactory3} from '../../src/render3/interfaces/renderer';
 import {TrustedString, bypassSanitizationTrustHtml, bypassSanitizationTrustResourceUrl, bypassSanitizationTrustScript, bypassSanitizationTrustStyle, bypassSanitizationTrustUrl, sanitizeHtml, sanitizeResourceUrl, sanitizeScript, sanitizeStyle, sanitizeUrl} from '../../src/sanitization/sanitization';
@@ -72,6 +72,23 @@ describe('instructions', () => {
     });
   });
 
+  describe('element', () => {
+    it('should create an element', () => {
+      const t = new TemplateFixture(() => { element(0, 'div', ['id', 'test', 'title', 'Hello']); });
+
+      const div = (t.hostNode.native as HTMLElement).querySelector('div') !;
+      expect(div.id).toEqual('test');
+      expect(div.title).toEqual('Hello');
+
+      expect(ngDevMode).toHaveProperties({
+        firstTemplatePass: 1,
+        tNode: 2,  // 1 for div, 1 for host element
+        tView: 1,
+        rendererCreateElement: 1,
+      });
+    });
+  });
+
   describe('elementAttribute', () => {
     it('should use sanitizer function', () => {
       const t = new TemplateFixture(createDiv);