HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language. It is the standard language used to create and structure content on the web. It defines the structure of a webpage by using a series of elements, tags, and attributes to organize text, images, links, and other multimedia elements.
- HTML is a markup language, not a programming language, meaning it annotates text to define how it is structured and displayed by web browsers.
- It forms the building blocks of all websites and is complemented by CSS for style and JavaScript for interactivity.
- It is a static language, meaning that it does not inherently provide interactive features but can be combined with CSS for styling and JavaScript for interactivity.
In a nutshell, HTML is all about organizing and displaying information on a webpage. We can think of it as the bones or structure of a webpage.
Basic HTML Code Example
HTML
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>My First Webpage</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Welcome to My Webpage</h1>
<p>This is my first paragraph of text!</p>
</body>
</html>
Output:
HTML
In this example:
- <!DOCTYPE html>: Declares the document type and version (HTML5).
- <html>: The root element that wraps all HTML content.
- <head>: Contains meta-information about the webpage, like the title.
- <title>: Specifies the title of the webpage (appears in the browser tab).
- <body>: Contains the visible content of the webpage.
- <h1>: Represents the main heading on the page (“Welcome to My Webpage”).
- <p>: Defines a paragraph of text (“This is my first paragraph of text!”).
HTML Introduction
Key Features of HTML
- Markup Language: HTML uses tags to markup content. Each tag defines different elements, such as headings, paragraphs, tables, links, etc.
- Semantics: HTML provides semantic tags that describe the meaning of the content. For example, <article>, <footer>, <header>, and <nav> describe different types of content on a webpage.
- Responsive Web Design: HTML supports various features for building responsive websites, including media queries and the ability to embed multimedia content.
- Interactive Content: HTML can embed interactive content using JavaScript, which allows for dynamic changes in the content.
HTML Page Structure
The basic structure of an HTML page is shown below. It contains the essential building-block elements (i.e. doctype declaration, HTML, head, title, and body elements) upon which all web pages are created.
- <!DOCTYPE html> – This is the document type declaration, not a tag. It declares that the document is an HTML5 document.
- <html> – This is called the HTML root element. All other elements are contained within it.
- <head> – The head tag contains the “behind the scenes” elements for a webpage. Elements within the head aren’t visible on the front end of a webpage. Typical elements inside the <head> include:
- <title>: Defines the title displayed on the browser tab.
- <meta>: Provides information like the character set or viewport settings.
- <link>: Links external stylesheets or resources.
- <style>: Embeds internal CSS styles.
- <script>: Embeds JavaScript for functionality.
- <title> – The title is what is displayed on the top of your browser when you visit a website and contains the title of the webpage that you are viewing.
- <h2> – The <h2> tag is a second-level heading tag.
- <p>– The <p> tag represents a paragraph of text.
- <body> – The body tag is used to enclose all the visible content of a webpage. In other words, the body content is what the browser will show on the front end.
An HTML document can be created using an HTML text editor. Save the text file using the “.html” or “.htm” extension. Once saved as an HTML document, the file can be opened as a webpage in the browser.
Note: Basic/built-in text editors are Notepad (Windows) and TextEdit (MacOS). Other advanced text editors include Sublime Text, Visual Studio Code, Froala, etc.
HTML Elements and HTML Tags are related but distinct. An HTML element is the complete structure, including the opening tag, content (if any), and the closing tag (if applicable).
On the other hand, A tag is the actual keyword or name enclosed in angle brackets (< >) that tells the browser what kind of content to expect.
HTML Tags
Tag
| Description
|
|---|
<html>
| The root element of an HTML document
|
|---|
<head>
| Contains meta-information about the webpage
|
|---|
<body>
| Contains the visible content of the webpage
|
|---|
<h1> to <h6>
| Headings of various levels (h1 being the largest)
|
|---|
<p>
| Defines a paragraph
|
|---|
<a>
| Defines a hyperlink
|
|---|
<img>
| Embed an image
|
|---|
<ul>
| Defines an unordered list
|
|---|
<ol>
| Defines an ordered list
|
|---|
<li>
| Defines a list item
|
|---|
<table>
| Defines a table
|
|---|
<form>
| Defines an HTML form
|
|---|
To learn more about it follow the article – HTML Tags
HTML Attributes
Attributes provide additional information about an element. They are placed inside the opening tag and are written as name=”value”. Common attributes include class, id, href, and src.
Example:
<a href="/https://www.example.com">Visit Example</a>
- href is an attribute of the <a> tag that defines the URL of the link.
To learn more about it follow the article – HTML Attributes
Web Browsers
Unlike other programming languages, HTML does not show output on the compiler. Web browsers show the results of an HTML code.
It reads HTML files and determines how to show content with the help of HTML tags. Any web browser (Google, Safari, Mozilla Firefox, etc) can be used to open a . HTML file and view the results.
index.html
Why Learn HTML?
Here are 5 common reasons to learn HTML:
- Build Websites: HTML is the basic building block for creating any website. Learning HTML can help you pursue a career in web development.
- Customize Content: Allows you to edit or tweak web pages, emails, or templates to fit your needs.
- Understand how the web works: This helps you grasp how the internet works and how web pages are structured.
- Employment Opportunities: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, projects that employment for web developers will grow 16% between 2022 and 2032, which is much faster than the average across all occupations.
- Learn Easily: HTML is beginner-friendly, making it a great first step into the world of coding and technology.
Applications of HTML
- Web Development: HTML is the backbone of every webpage. It structures the content and integrates multimedia, hyperlinks, and more.
- Web Applications: HTML, in combination with CSS and JavaScript, powers complex web applications (e.g., Google Docs, Trello).
- Emails: HTML emails use table-based layouts and embedded media to deliver rich, interactive content.
- Mobile App Development: HTML5 is used with frameworks like PhoneGap to build mobile apps for iOS and Android.
Limitations of HTML
- No Logic or Functionality: HTML cannot handle complex logic, interactivity, or dynamic content on its own. It requires JavaScript for such tasks.
- SEO Limitations: While HTML provides structure, it’s not enough by itself for search engine optimization (SEO). Proper metadata and content structuring, as well as external SEO practices, are necessary.
- Limited Styles: While HTML can handle basic styles via the style attribute, it is typically complemented by CSS for complex styling and layout.
HTML5: Enhancements and New Features
HTML5 introduced several powerful features that improve the structure and functionality of web pages, including:
- Semantics: New tags like <article>, <footer>, <header>, and <section> to improve the meaning of the content.
- Multimedia: <audio> and <video> tags for embedding audio and video without plugins.
- APIs: New APIs like Geolocation, Web Storage, and Canvas allow for more dynamic content and interactive websites.
HTML History
Currently, we are using HTML5, which is the latest and most advanced version of HTML.
- HTML was initially created by Tim Berners-Lee in 1991 as a way to share and structure documents on the web.
- The first-ever version was HTML 1.0, a basic and limited version. However, the first standardized version, HTML 2.0, was published in 1995, laying the foundation for web development as we know it today.
Conclusion
In conclusion, mastering HTML is a fundamental step in your web development journey. This guide serves as a comprehensive resource for understanding HTML, from the basics to more advanced topics. Remember, HTML is more than just a markup language – it’s a powerful tool for creating engaging, accessible, and SEO-friendly websites.
To learn more about HTML, visit the HTML Tutorial Page.
Master The Art of Web Development with Full Stack Web Development
Similar Reads
HTML Tutorial
HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language. It is the standard language used to create and structure content on the web. It tells the web browser how to display text, links, images, and other forms of multimedia on a webpage. HTML sets up the basic structure of a website, and then CSS and JavaScript
10 min read
HTML Introduction
HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language. It is the standard language used to create and structure content on the web. It defines the structure of a webpage by using a series of elements, tags, and attributes to organize text, images, links, and other multimedia elements. HTML is a markup language,
7 min read
HTML Editors
An HTML Editor is a software application designed to help users create and modify HTML code. It often includes features like syntax highlighting, tag completion, and error detection, which facilitate the coding process. There are two main types of HTML editors: Text-Based Editors - Allow direct codi
5 min read
HTML Basics
HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the standard markup language for creating and structuring web pages. It defines the structure of a webpage using elements and tags.HTML is responsible for displaying text, images, and other content.It serves as the foundation for building websites and web applicat
6 min read
HTML Comments
HTML comments are used to add notes or explanations in the HTML code that are not displayed by the browser. They are useful for documenting the code, making it easier to understand and maintain.To add a comment, use the syntax <!-- your comment here -->. [GFGTABS] HTML <!-- This is a commen
4 min read
HTML Elements
An HTML Element consists of a start tag, content, and an end tag, which together define the element's structure and functionality. Elements are the basic building blocks of a webpage and can represent different types of content, such as text, links, images, or headings. For example, the <p> el
5 min read
HTML Attributes
HTML Attributes are special words used within the opening tag of an HTML element. They provide additional information about HTML elements. HTML attributes are used to configure and adjust the element's behavior, appearance, or functionality in a variety of ways. Each attribute has a name and a value
9 min read
HTML Headings
HTML headings are used to define the titles and subtitles of sections on a webpage. They help organize the content and create a structure that is easy to navigate. Proper use of headings enhances readability by organizing content into clear sections.Search engines utilize headings to understand page
4 min read
HTML Paragraphs
A paragraph in HTML is simply a block of text enclosed within the <p> tag. The <p> tag helps divide content into manageable, readable sections. It’s the go-to element for wrapping text in a web page that is meant to be displayed as a distinct paragraph. Syntax: <p> Content</p
5 min read
HTML Text Formatting
HTML text formatting refers to the use of specific HTML tags to modify the appearance and structure of text on a webpage. It allows you to style text in different ways, such as making it bold, italic, underlined, highlighted, or struck-through. Table of Content Categories of HTML Text FormattingLogi
4 min read